Oddly modern skull raises new questions about the early evolution of birds By Stephanie Pappas published 8 December 22 A fossil skull from a toothy early relative of today's birds shows a weirdly modern skull configuration, raising new questions about the early evolution of birds.
'Jousting ankylosaurs' whacked their peers with their 'sledgehammer-like tails' By Jennifer Nalewicki published 8 December 22 Not only did ankylosaurs like "Zuul" use their tails as weapons against potential predators, but they also used them to battle their peers.
Mammals were already poised to take over the world before the dino-killing asteroid struck By Nicoletta Lanese published 7 December 22 Ancient mammals were better adapted than nonavian dinosaurs to survive the Chicxulub asteroid impact.
Heartbreaking photo reveals a baby baboon still clinging to its dead mother as she's carried away by a leopard By Stephanie Pappas published 7 December 22 The annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition People's Choice shortlist highlights animals from ecosystems across Earth.
Monstrous 'gorgons' survived a mass extinction, but they were a 'dead clade walking' By Laura Geggel published 5 December 22 About 90% of all species went extinct during the "Great Dying" around 252 million years ago, but in the case of one paleo-beast — the so-called gorgon — reports of its death were greatly exaggerated, new research finds.
Scientists unlocked the secrets to bats' heavy metal growls By Elizabeth Rayne published 5 December 22 Bats vibrate special vocal folds to produce low-pitched growls like those of death metal singers.
Ancient lizard with teeth like butcher knives 're-calibrates the whole shebang' of reptile evolution By Jennifer Nalewicki published 2 December 22 Despite being palm-size, this Triassic lizard had a vicious bite.
Noodle-necked swimming dinosaur may have been a diving predator like a penguin By Mindy Weisberger published 1 December 22 Scientists recently discovered the first non-avian theropod dinosaur with a streamlined body similar to that of penguins, auks and other modern diving birds.
Ancient superpredator that lived 328 million years ago was 'the T. rex of its time' By Stephanie Pappas published 30 November 22 Fangy Whatcheeria measured up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) long, and more than 300 million years ago, it was the apex predator in the sinkholes-turned-lakes of the American Midwest.
Fossilized brain of 525 million-year-old deep sea worm likely the oldest ever discovered By Harry Baker published 30 November 22 An ancient worm unearthed in China has one of the oldest fossilized brains ever found. The brain's shape could also help solve a centuries-old debate about the evolution of arthropods.
Mind-controlling parasite turns wolves into pack leaders By Joshua A. Krisch published 30 November 22 A parasite that can alter animal behavior is changing the habits of infected wolves in Yellowstone, increasing aggression and goading them into taking greater risks.
'Dwarf dinosaur' that lived on prehistoric island unearthed in Transylvania By JoAnna Wendel published 29 November 22 The new "dwarf dinosaur" species lends more evidence to the "island rule," which posits that animals evolving on islands become smaller than their mainland counterparts.
Octopuses may be terrifically smart because of this genetic quirk they share with humans By Ben Turner published 28 November 22 Octopus brains may have grown smart from an enormous diversity of microRNAs that let them grow multiple types of brain cells.
'Frightful' never-before-seen tyrannosaur might be the 'missing link' in T. rex evolution By Harry Baker published 28 November 22 Paleontologists have discovered fossils belonging to a newfound species of tyrannosaur, which could fill an important gap in the evolutionary history of T. rex.
What is the largest squid in the world? By Charles Q. Choi published 27 November 22 There are two contenders for the world's largest squid, and both are giants.
Ravenous meat-eating dinosaur's guts preserved in exceptionally rare fossil By Joanna Thompson published 25 November 22 Paleontologists in China have examined the remarkable gut remnants of a birdlike dinosaur that lived more than 100 million years ago.
Brown recluse bites caused two people's blood cells to self-destruct By Rebecca Sohn published 25 November 22 Bites from brown recluse spiders can cause an autoimmune form of hemolytic anemia, in which red blood cells are destroyed by the immune system.
$25 million auction of T. rex skeleton called off at the last minute over replica bone controversy By Harry Baker published 24 November 22 The auction house Christie's has called off the upcoming auction of a T. rex skeleton, known as Shen, after experts noticed it looked suspiciously similar to another famous T. rex specimen, Stan.
Giant 67-pound goldfish reeled in from French lake may be one of the largest ever caught By Ben Turner published 24 November 22 In an epic tug-of-war, it took the British angler 25 minutes to haul the monster fish, nicknamed The Carrot, to land.
10 terrific turkey facts By Remy Melina, Jeanna Bryner published 23 November 22 Turkeys can fly, blush and are distant relatives of Tyrannosaurus rex. Read on to learn more about these Thanksgiving divas.
