Animal news, feature and articles

Dame Jane Goodall, the world's preeminent chimpanzee expert, died of natural causes.

Researchers have discovered a mysterious ancient lizard with snake-like teeth in Scotland. Breugnathair elgolensis is one of the oldest relatively complete lizard fossils and helps scientists better understand the origins of snakes in the Jurassic period.

The newly described mouse opossum was discovered at a surprisingly high altitude in the Andes.

Researchers have described a whole new family of extinct crocodyliforms based on the fossilized remains of a single teenage croc named Elton discovered in the Blackleaf Formation.

The hybrid bird is the product of two species whose habitat ranges began to overlap a few decades ago, potentially due to climate change, researchers said.

Speedy megaraptor Joaquinraptor casali had big arms and claws like hedge trimmers that would have made T. rex's forelimbs look puny.

Difficulty digesting large meals may limit where these temperature-sensitive snakes can call home — and that might be a good thing in places where they're invasive.