Tag: fossil
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First-of-its-kind ‘butt drag fossil’ found in South Africa hints at a fuzzy elephant-relative 126,000 years ago
Introduction: A surprising fossil sheds new light on Africa’s ancient fauna A rare fossil discovery in South Africa is rewriting what scientists know about prehistoric mammals. Dubbed the first-of-its-kind “butt drag fossil,” researchers say the specimen reveals how an ancient, furry relative of today’s elephants moved across rocky terrains more than a hundred thousand years…
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First-of-its-Kind ‘Butt Drag Fossil’ Discovered in South Africa by a Fuzzy Elephant Relative 126,000 Years Ago
Scientists in South Africa have announced a groundbreaking fossil find that reads like a scene from a prehistoric diary: a remarkably preserved fossilized impression described as a “butt drag fossil,” left by a fuzzy, elephant-sized relative of today’s hyraxes around 126,000 years ago. The discovery, unearthed in a rocky South African landscape, offers rare physical…
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Mysterious Toronto deer fossil finally identified after half a century
A fossil that resisted identification for decades Nearly 50 years after it was unearthed during construction near Islington subway station, a mysterious deer fossil has finally revealed its story. A collaboration among Trent University, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and the Royal Alberta Museum has shed new light on Torontoceros hypogaeus — dubbed the “horned…
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Sword Dragon of Dorset: Newly Identified Ichthyosaur Xiphodracon goldencapensis
Introduction: A unique find on the Jurassic Coast A near-complete skeleton discovered on Dorset’s Jurassic coast has been identified as a new species of ichthyosaur, a marine reptile that ruled ancient oceans. The specimen, named Xiphodracon goldencapensis — the “sword dragon of Dorset” — is the only known example of its kind. Its discovery adds…
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Tongue Bite Fossil Rewrites Fish Evolution: 310-Million-Year-Old Discovery
A fossil discovery from roughly 310 million years ago is reshaping how scientists understand the evolution of feeding in ray-finned fish. The fossilized remains of Platysomus, an early Pennsylvanian fish, show the first clear evidence of a tongue-like biting structure that used gill bones to crush and grind prey. This tiny but pivotal innovation demonstrates…