Kaala Fuller

03/01/2025

A 183-million-year-old plesiosaur fossil has provided the first look at the extinct marine reptile’s soft tissue.

Unlike its contemporary ichthyosaurs, which were entirely smooth-skinned, the plesiosaur had scales on its flippers, resembling modern green sea turtles, while the rest of its body was more like a leatherback turtle.

The fossil, known as MH7, was first excavated in 1940 in Germany but remained unstudied for decades until scientists recently analyzed its preserved tissue using advanced techniques. This breakthrough offers new insights into how these prehistoric creatures moved and adapted to their marine environment.

The presence of scales on the flippers may have helped the plesiosaur swim more efficiently or navigate the seafloor while searching for food, while its smooth skin likely reduced drag, aiding swift movement through the water. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about plesiosaur anatomy and provides a clearer picture of their external appearance.

With only a handful of plesiosaur fossils preserving soft tissue, MH7 represents a rare and invaluable specimen that deepens our understanding of these ancient ocean-dwelling reptiles. The findings suggest that plesiosaurs were a fascinating evolutionary blend of features seen in modern marine reptiles, reshaping how scientists reconstruct their biology and behavior.

Learn more: https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00001-6

03/01/2025

The giant moa was a remarkable flightless bird, towering up to 10 feet (3 meters) tall and weighing as much as 510 lbs (230 kg). Unfortunately, it was hunted to extinction by 1445, primarily due to human activity. The moa was a crucial food source for the Māori people who arrived in New Zealand between 1250 and 1300 AD. Its large size and inability to fly made it an easy target for the early settlers, contributing significantly to its rapid decline.

In addition to the Māori, the moa was also the main prey of Haast’s eagle, which was the largest eagle ever to exist. Weighing up to 40 lbs (18 kg) and boasting wingspans reaching 10 feet (3 meters), Haast's eagle was perfectly adapted for hunting large prey like the moa. Its powerful build and specialized hunting techniques made it a dominant predator in its environment, where the moa was its primary source of sustenance.

However, with the extinction of the moa, Haast's eagle lost its main food source, and the shrinking habitats further contributed to its demise. Without large prey to sustain it, the eagle could not survive and went extinct, likely within a few decades after the moa’s disappearance. While the eagle was believed to be extinct by the 1400s, unconfirmed sightings persisted until the late 1800s, suggesting that the memory of these powerful birds lingered for some time.

03/01/2025

This is the best-preserved dinosaur ever found.

The 112-million-year-old nodosaurus is so intact that it still retains its armor plates, skin patterns, and even traces of its original pigmentation.

Scientists believe the nodosaurus was swept into an ancient sea, where rapid mineralization preserved its features with stunning detail. Unlike typical fossils, which consist mostly of bones, this "dinosaur mummy" provides an unprecedented glimpse into what these prehistoric creatures actually looked like in life.

Now displayed at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, this nodosaurus fossil is regarded as one of the most significant paleontological finds in history. The level of preservation offers rare insights into dinosaur biology, evolution, and even coloration, helping researchers understand their physical characteristics in ways never before possible.

Learn more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borealopelta

02/28/2025

Uh oh, looks like someone's in trouble! What do you think happens next?

02/28/2025

A glimpse into the past. What story does this image tell you?

02/28/2025

This dinosaur art feels like a dream. So calming and surreal.

02/28/2025

Talk about thinking outside the box... or inside the cube! 🍉 What do you think of square watermelons?

02/27/2025

A close-up look at two different dinosaurs.

02/27/2025

02/27/2025

A tale of two giants, a story of loss. What happened here? 💔

02/27/2025

A prehistoric struggle for survival! Who will emerge victorious? ⚔️

02/27/2025

by

02/26/2025

❤️❤️

02/26/2025

🦖❤️

02/25/2025

Real Spino

02/25/2025

Blue 🦖💙