Paleontology News

Researchers have linked another extinction to human beings: this time of a massive prehistoric horned turtle. Prehistoric turtles in the Meiolania genus were thought to have vanished some 50,000 years…

Sauropod babies for breakfast A fossilized snake has been discovered inside a titanosaur nest in India, leading researchers to conclude that the snake fed on newly-hatched dinosaur babies, rather than…

For over a century and a half researchers have debated whether humans or climate change killed off Australia's megafuana. A new paper in Science argues with new evidence that Australia's…

Imagine, forty million years ago a great tropical storm rises up on the eastern coast of Africa. Hundreds of trees are blown over and swept out to sea, but one…

When the 'hobbits' were discovered in 2003 they made news worldwide, sparking visions of a world our small relations lived among giant rats, dwarf elephants, and lizards bigger than the…

It sounds like something out of Greek mythology: a half-goat, half-reptilian creature. But researchers have discovered that an extinct species of goat, the Balearic Island cave goat or Myotragus balearicus,…

Arctic researcher: 'we have entered unchartered territory' The Arctic should be growing cooler, but a new sediment core taken from an Arctic lake reveals that the lake's ecology and chemistry…

Fifty eight million years ago the tropical rainforests of South America shared many similarities with today's Neotropical forests, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of…

A new study, published in the journal Geology, estimates the age of the Amazon river at 11 million years. Conducting analysis of sedimentological and paleontological data obtained by drilling deep…

Missing link between fish and land animals discovered Missing link between fish and land animals discovered By Morgan Erickson-Davis, special to mongabay.com November 7, 2008 New fossil brings more insight…

Humans - not climate - drove extinction of giant Tasmanian animals Humans - not climate - drove extinction of giant Tasmanian animals mongabay.com August 11, 2008 Humans — not climate…

10-pound 'Giant Frog From Hell' ate baby dinosaurs 10-pound 'Giant Frog From Hell' discovered in Madagascar mongabay.com February 18, 2008 Researchers have discovered the remains of what may be the…

New duck-billed dinosaur discovered in Mexico New duck-billed dinosaur discovered in Mexico mongabay.com February 12, 2008 A previously unknown species of dinosaur has been discovered in Mexico, shadding new light…

Two strange carnivorous dinosaurs discovered in the Sahara Two strange carnivorous dinosaurs discovered in the Sahara mongabay.com February 13, 2008 Two previously unknown species of dinosaur discovered in the Sahara…

Mini-pterodactyl discovered in China Mini-pterodactyl discovered in China mongabay.com February 11, 2008 Scientists have discovered a previously unknown species of pterodactyl in northeastern China. Life reconstructions of Nemicolopterus crypticus, a…

Global warming to increase insect attacks on plants Global warming to increase insect attacks on plants mongabay.com February 11, 2008 Global warming will increase attacks on plant leaves by insects,…

2,000 pound rodent discovered 2,000 pound rodent discovered mongabay.com January 16, 2008 Scientists have discovered the remains of an extinct 2,000 pound rodent — the largest rodent ever known. The…

Despite crocs in the Arctic, glaciers existed during extreme warming 90M years ago Despite Arctic crocodiles, glaciers existed during extreme global warming 90M years ago mongabay.com January 10, 2008 Massive…

Evolution of whales challenged Origin of whales challenged mongabay.com December 19, 2007 Modern whales appear to have evolved from a raccoon-sized creature with the body of a small deer, according…

Prehistoric Carnivorous Fungi Lassoed its Prey Prehistoric Carnivorous Fungi Lassoed its Prey mongabay.com December 13, 2007 Scientists have discovered the oldest known carnivorous fungus, according to a study published in…

Massive carnivorous dinosaur discovered Massive carnivorous dinosaur discovered mongabay.com December 11, 2007 A massive carnivorous dinosaur discovered in Niger has been described as a new species, according to research published…

Cow-like dinosaur discovered Cow-like dinosaur discovered mongabay.com November 15, 2007 A dinosaur discovered in the Sahara had a mouth that worked like a vacuum cleaner and operated more like a…

Missing link between humans and apes possibly discovered Missing link between humans and apes possibly discovered mongabay.com November 12, 2007 A 10 million-year-old jawbone discovered in Kenya may represent a…

Chocolate first used more than 3100 years ago Chocolate first used more than 3100 years ago mongabay.com November 12, 2007 Cacao, the source of chocolate, was in use at least…

Climate change did not cause extinction of Neanderthals Climate change did not cause extinction of Neanderthals mongabay.com September 12, 2007 Researchers in Europe have found evidence that rules out a…

Dinosaurs' rise to dominance was a gradual Dinosaurs' rise to dominance was a gradual mongabay.com July 19, 2007 Dinosaurs' rise to dominance was a gradual rather than sudden, suggests new…

Pygmy panda discovered in China Pygmy panda discovered in China mongabay.com June 18, 2007 Researchers have discovered an extinct pygmy panda in what were once the tropical forests of China.…

Ancient gliding reptile discovered Ancient gliding reptile discovered Society of Vertebrate Paleontology June 12, 2007 A remarkable new long-necked, gliding reptile discovered in 220 million-year old sediments of eastern north…

Tyrannosaurus rex was slow Tyrannosaurus rex was slow mongabay.com June 7, 2007 Tyrannosaurus rex was a slow, lumbering beast according to new research published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology.…