Tag: ancient oceans
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Meet the Massive Prehistoric Fish That Survived on Plankton
Introduction: A Giant of the Jurassic Seas The Jurassic oceans were full of extraordinary creatures, but none were as colossal as Leedsichthys problematicus. This prehistoric giant earned its reputation as the largest known bony fish, towering above most marine life of its era. Yet despite its size, its diet was small and delicate: microscopic plankton.…
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New Sword-Headed Ichthyosaur Unearthed on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast: Xiphodracon goldencapensis
Discovery and designation of a unique species A near-complete skeleton recovered from Dorset’s famed Jurassic Coast has been identified as a new species of ichthyosaur, a marine reptile that dominated the oceans long before dinosaurs walked the land. The fossil, about the size of a dolphin and remarkably well preserved, has been named Xiphodracon goldencapensis…
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Extreme Red Sea Desiccation 6.2 Million Years Ago Revealed
Ancient Drying of the Red Sea: A Prehistoric Desert Reborn New research reveals an astonishing chapter in Earth’s history: about 6.2 million years ago, the Red Sea basin dried completely, turning a once liquid valley into a vast, salty desert. This extreme environmental event ended with a rapid reflood from the Indian Ocean, leaving a…