Paleontology

Fossils of a new species of huge dinosaur Spinosaurus unearthed in Niger

Spinosaurus, the only known semiaquatic dinosaur predator, joins Tyrannosaurus, Giganotosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus among the largest meat-eating dinosaurs.

A 46-foot (14m) long Spinosaurus cast debuts at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois, US, June 2, 2023.
160-million-year-old Anchiornis fossils.

160 million years later: This rare fossil is overturning everything we knew about how birds evolved

Dinosaur, edmontosaurus close up with open mouth. Ukraine, Khmelnitsky, October 2021.

'Medusa,' possible 'dinosaur mummy' discovered in Badlands, transferred for further research

People in protective suits examine a frozen woolly mammoth from Siberia named "Yuka" during a media preview at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei November 6, 2013.

Scientists discover RNA molecules from a mammoth that went extinct 40,000 years ago


Megalodon shark may have reached 80 feet, new study finds

Megalodon sharks roamed the seas between 20 million and 3.6 million years ago.

 an illustration of a shark being eaten by an even larger shark Scientists have long assumed megalodons looked like big great white sharks, but new research suggests this is not the case

Jurassic highway: Hundreds of dinosaur footprints found in UK quarry

The dig at Dewars Farm Quarry found five extensive trackways, one of which measured more than 150 meters in length.

 Dinosaur fossils are displayed at auction house Christie's in London, Britain, in his undated handout photo.

Hong Kong's first dinosaur fossils, likely from large dinosaur, go on display

The fossils, confirmed to be dated to the Cretaceous period some 145 million to 66 million years ago, need further study to confirm the dinosaur species.

 A child looks at a rock containing dinosaur bone fossils discovered in Hong Kong, displayed at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, in Hong Kong, China October 25, 2024.

Evidence of smallpox in 16th century Peru uncovered in Incan children's skeletal remains

The defects found on the bones of the two children highlight a devastating impact of European colonization.

 Elongated skulls at the Inca museum

Gigantic marine reptile's fossils found by British girl and father

British girl finds fossil of massive ancient marine reptile in Somerset, England. Jawbone suggests creature rivaling blue whales, named Ichthyotitan severnensis.

 An assistant compares a fossilised tooth of a giant whale called Leviathan against the whale's fossilised jaw at the Natural History Museum in Lima June 30, 2010. The fossil of a giant whale called Leviathan for having teeth bigger than a grown man's forearms has been found in Peru by paleontologis

New species of dinosaur discovered in Argentina

Named Sidersaura marae, a new species of long-necked herbivorous dinosaur was discovered in the province of Neuquén, Argentina.

 Sidersaura marae, discovered in Argentina

Dinosaur feathers were more similar to those we recognize than previously assumed - study

Proteins were discovered in fossilized feathers which were previously believed to only be present in modern animals.

 Pterosaur (Illustrative).

'Bizarre' long-legged bird-like dinosaur has scientists enthralled

The question of whether Fujianvenator, with its curious mixture of skeletal features, should be classified as a bird or a dinosaur is still in debate.

 A life reconstruction of the bird-like dinosaur Fujianvenator prodigiosus, which lived 148 million to 150 million years ago in China, is seen in this illustration.

Ancient clawed 'Edward Scissorhands' reptile discovered in Brazil

Researchers described the newly discovered creature as similar to Edward Scissorhands because of its long claws.

 This illustration shows the Cretaceous carnivorous mammal Repenomamus robustus attacking the plant-eating dinosaur Psittacosaurus lujiatunensis moments before a volcanic debris flow buries them both about 125 million years ago in China.

Purring predators: The adorable secret of saber-toothed tigers

The purring domestic cats of today may have more in common with their fearsome prehistoric ancestors than we thought.

A sabre tooth tiger depiction at the Boston Museum of Science.