Dinosaurs
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Dineobellator notohesperus
A newly discovered raptor shows that these dinosaurs stalked America’s Southwest right up to the bitter end.
The raptor was discovered from a 67-million-year-old fossil, dating it to within a million years of the cataclysmic event that killed off all non-flying dinosaurs.
The dinosaur has been named Dineobellator notohesperus, which means ‘Navajo warrior from the Southwest’, in honour of the people who live in the region where this dinosaur once roamed.
It belongs to a family of dinosaurs known as the dromaeosaurids, the most famous of which is Velociraptor – that’s why these dinosaurs are commonly known as ‘raptors’.
Dineobellator was a lightly-built, meat-eating predator, about two metres in length. Features on the animal’s forelimbs suggest that it boasted unusually strong arms and claws – handy for holding onto prey such as birds and lizards, or grappling with other dinosaurs.
Its tail was also unusual. Unlike other raptors, Dineobellator could move its stiff tail at its base, using it almost like a rudder as it raced across the ground.
“Think of what happens with a cat’s tail as it is running,” said Steven Jasinski, who led the study while completing a PhD at the University of Pennsylvania. “While the tail itself remains straight, it is also whipping around constantly as the animal is changing direction. A stiff tail that is highly mobile at its base allows for increased agility and changes in direction, and potentially aided Dineobellator in pursuing prey, especially in more open habitats.”
And, just like Velociraptor, it looks like Dineobellator sported feathers. Bones from the dinosaur’s forearm had quill knobs – small bumps on the surface where feathers would be attached by ligaments
“As we find evidence of more members possessing feathers, we believe it is likely that all the dromaeosaurids had feathers,” said Jasinski.
A newly discovered raptor shows that these dinosaurs stalked America’s Southwest right up to the bitter end.
The raptor was discovered from a 67-million-year-old fossil, dating it to within a million years of the cataclysmic event that killed off all non-flying dinosaurs.
The dinosaur has been named Dineobellator notohesperus, which means ‘Navajo warrior from the Southwest’, in honour of the people who live in the region where this dinosaur once roamed.
It belongs to a family of dinosaurs known as the dromaeosaurids, the most famous of which is Velociraptor – that’s why these dinosaurs are commonly known as ‘raptors’.
Dineobellator was a lightly-built, meat-eating predator, about two metres in length. Features on the animal’s forelimbs suggest that it boasted unusually strong arms and claws – handy for holding onto prey such as birds and lizards, or grappling with other dinosaurs.
Its tail was also unusual. Unlike other raptors, Dineobellator could move its stiff tail at its base, using it almost like a rudder as it raced across the ground.
“Think of what happens with a cat’s tail as it is running,” said Steven Jasinski, who led the study while completing a PhD at the University of Pennsylvania. “While the tail itself remains straight, it is also whipping around constantly as the animal is changing direction. A stiff tail that is highly mobile at its base allows for increased agility and changes in direction, and potentially aided Dineobellator in pursuing prey, especially in more open habitats.”
And, just like Velociraptor, it looks like Dineobellator sported feathers. Bones from the dinosaur’s forearm had quill knobs – small bumps on the surface where feathers would be attached by ligaments
“As we find evidence of more members possessing feathers, we believe it is likely that all the dromaeosaurids had feathers,” said Jasinski.
Stellasaurus ancellae
The fossilised remains of the creature found in Montana have been given the species name Stellasaurus ancellae – the first member of the new Stellasaurus genus.
During its existence across the barren American terrain during the Cretaceous period, Stellasaurus ancellae would have relied on its stunning horns to attract mates – much like the promiscuous Bowie's loud outfits during his glam phase.
'The skull ornamentation is astonishing – almost star-like,' said palaeontologist Jack Wilson at Montana State University's Department of Earth Sciences, who has confessed to being a lover of British pop and rock.
The fossilised remains of the creature found in Montana have been given the species name Stellasaurus ancellae – the first member of the new Stellasaurus genus.
During its existence across the barren American terrain during the Cretaceous period, Stellasaurus ancellae would have relied on its stunning horns to attract mates – much like the promiscuous Bowie's loud outfits during his glam phase.
'The skull ornamentation is astonishing – almost star-like,' said palaeontologist Jack Wilson at Montana State University's Department of Earth Sciences, who has confessed to being a lover of British pop and rock.
A discovery of a 66-million-year-old fossil challenges previous assumptions that mammals were generally very small - the size of mice - at this point in their evolutionary history.
Researchers say this individual animal weighed 3kg (6.6lbs) and had not reached its full adult size.
Scientists think that the badger-like creature, known as Adalatherium hui, would have burrowed.
It had a large collection of nerves in the snout, making this area extremely sensitive - a feature frequently seen in burrowing animals.
Before mammals took over the Earth, they probably had to run and hide from the much larger dinosaurs that ruled our planet - not to mention other predators.
Researchers say this individual animal weighed 3kg (6.6lbs) and had not reached its full adult size.
Scientists think that the badger-like creature, known as Adalatherium hui, would have burrowed.
It had a large collection of nerves in the snout, making this area extremely sensitive - a feature frequently seen in burrowing animals.
Before mammals took over the Earth, they probably had to run and hide from the much larger dinosaurs that ruled our planet - not to mention other predators.
Tully Monster
A bizarre ancient creature that looks like a sci-fi reject may actually have been a backboned animal related to fish.
The claim relies on chemical analysis of fossils of the creature. However, other palaeontologists remain cautious.
The animal is called Tullimonstrum gregarium, or simply the Tully Monster. It lived around 300 million years ago in shallow waters covering what is now Illinois. There are thousands of good fossils, all from one formation called Mazon Creek.
The Tully Monster had a streamlined body a bit like a worm or fish, …
Read more: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2242476-fossil-monster-looks-alien-but-may-be-related-to-primitive-fish/#ixzz6LDovCFlH
