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2+ hour, 57+ min ago (396+ words) 70 million-year-old "ghost tracks" found in bolivia, are dinosaurs hiding a big secret? Nearly 18,000 dinosaur footprints have been uncovered at the Carreras Pampa tracksite in Bolivia, making it the largest recorded site of dinosaur tracks ever found. Carreras Pampa, located within Torotoro National Park, has become a key site for understanding the movement and behaviors of ancient dinosaurs. The footprints are thought to date back around 70 million years, when the region, now dry and arid, was actually a lush and humid landscape. But while the traces are plentiful, the absence of fossilized bones leaves some uncertainty about exactly which dinosaurs were responsible for them. According to Ra'l Esperante, a paleontologist from the Geoscience Research Institute, the site features more than 16,600 three-toed footprints, along with hundreds of additional prints, including tail drag marks and swim imprints. With1,321 individual trackways, it has become the…...

5+ hour, 11+ min ago (907+ words) Chris is the co-founder of 'Animals Around The Globe' and a fervent wildlife enthusiast with extensive travels across diverse ecosystems worldwide. From exploring the marine wonders in the Azores and witnessing the vast savannas of Kenya, to delving deep into the rich biodiversity of South Africa and traversing iconic landscapes in Australia and the US like Yellowstone, Chris's experiences are vast. With a penchant for diving alongside sharks, the ocean holds a special place in his heart. Through his academic insights, he champions wildlife conservation, striving with 'Animals Around The Globe' to cultivate a profound connection between humans and animals, enhancing our mutual appreciation. Connect with him at [email protected]. In an ever-changing world where adaptation is key to survival, one creature stands as a remarkable testament to evolutionary perfection'the horseshoe crab. Often referred to as "living fossils," these ancient arthropods…...

6+ hour, 13+ min ago (1665+ words) Home " Wildlife " Fish " Mojarra Fish Do you want to learn about the Mojarra Fish? Fish are an integral part of many households, as companions or in dishes. With unparalleled diversity in species, size and appearance, there is one type of fish suited for all aquarists. Is the Mojarra maybe the fish for you? From goldfish to Mojarra, not only can they provide companionship, but studies indicate caring for a pet can bring numerous physical and mental health benefits. Do you have a pet fish? If so, you may be familiar with the mojarra fish. Mojarra makes an excellent pet choice for those looking for simplicity in caring. These hardy, beautiful additions are sure to please aquarists everywhere! Let's explore them in more detail and provide tips on how to care for them." Mojarra fish is also known by its scientific…...

6+ hour, 55+ min ago (938+ words) Home " Wildlife " 23 Ancient Animals that Still Alive Today Often cited as one of the oldest species on Earth, the horseshoe crab has existed for over 450 million years. Despite their name, horseshoe crabs are more closely related to arachnids than crustaceans. Their unique, smooth, and helmet-like shell and blue blood'rich in copper'are hallmarks of their ancient lineage. Once thought to be extinct, the coelacanth gained legendary status when it was rediscovered in 1938 off the coast of South Africa. Known for its distinctive lobed pectoral fins and a lineage tracing back 400 million years, this deep-sea dweller has provided valuable insights into the evolution of land-dwelling vertebrates. The Nautilus, with its beautifully coiled shell, has gracefully swum through the oceans for 500 million years. These cephalopods are known for their buoyancy control and striking design, which helps them glide along the ocean's currents. Their…...

7+ hour, 49+ min ago (1322+ words) Chris is the co-founder of 'Animals Around The Globe' and a fervent wildlife enthusiast with extensive travels across diverse ecosystems worldwide. From exploring the marine wonders in the Azores and witnessing the vast savannas of Kenya, to delving deep into the rich biodiversity of South Africa and traversing iconic landscapes in Australia and the US like Yellowstone, Chris's experiences are vast. With a penchant for diving alongside sharks, the ocean holds a special place in his heart. Through his academic insights, he champions wildlife conservation, striving with 'Animals Around The Globe' to cultivate a profound connection between humans and animals, enhancing our mutual appreciation. Connect with him at [email protected]. When we think of koalas, we typically envision adorable furry creatures nestled in eucalyptus trees, munching lazily on leaves. These iconic Australian marsupials have captivated our hearts with their teddy bear-like…...

8+ hour, 25+ min ago (438+ words) The mosasaur may have occupied a similar niche to modern-day saltwater crocodiles A giant ocean predator that terrorised the seas during the time of the dinosaurs may have also hunted in rivers, a tooth fossil discovered in North Dakota suggests. The extinct lizard-like reptile grew up to 12 metres (40 ft) in length and may have occupied a similar niche to modern-day saltwater crocodiles, say researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden. Until now, these terrifying giant aquatic reptiles with a bulky skull and powerful jaws were thought to be sea-dwelling predators, exclusively hunting in the oceans. Now, a 66-million-year-old mosasaur tooth fossil has been found in the Hell Creek Formation in North Dakota that bears signs of exposure to river water. Researchers dub the species the "King of the Riverside" in the new study published in the journal BMC Zoology. In the…...

8+ hour, 30+ min ago (568+ words) Home " News " The World's Largest Flightless Bird Was Even Bigger Than an Ostrich Imagine a bird so large that it dwarfs even the mighty ostrich, the present-day titan of flightless birds. Meet the Aepyornis, commonly known as the elephant bird, a creature of extraordinary proportions that once roamed the island of Madagascar. These birds stand as a testament to the islands' once rich biodiversity. The existence of the elephant bird has fascinated researchers for decades. Initial discoveries of their massive bones and colossal eggs date back to the 19th century. These remnants provided paleontologists with crucial insights into the bird's classification within the order Aepyornithiformes and family Aepyornithidae. Aepyornis maximus, one of the largest species of elephant birds, could grow to over 10 feet tall and weigh more than half a ton. This made them the largest birds to ever walk the…...

8+ hour, 42+ min ago (294+ words) How did the largest flying animal hover in the air? lead image The Quetzalcoatlus northropi was the largest flying animal that ever lived. The huge pterosaur existed during the Late Cretaceous period, around 66 million to 68 million years ago. The mass of Q. northropi is believed to have been between 65 and 260 kilograms and its wingspan was estimated to have been over 10 meters. Using this information, Scott Lee developed a lesson plan to determine the physics of the pterosaur's hovering flight. "In terms of flight, the bigger it is, the more dramatic it is," said Lee. "It's just mind-boggling that such a large animal could fly." While animals in flight can be difficult to model due to fluid dynamics, modeling the physics of a hovering creature is much easier to understand. "As an animal is hovering, gravity is trying to accelerate it down,…...

9+ hour, 12+ min ago (1339+ words) A groundbreaking genetic study has unveiled unprecedented insights into the evolutionary history of Homo sapiens by analyzing ancient southern African genomes. This research, utilizing over tenfold coverage genomes of ancient Africans alongside pre-Neolithic Eurasians, archaic Neandertals, and Denisovans, sheds new light on the genetic diversity, population structure, and demographic changes that have shaped early human [] A groundbreaking genetic study has unveiled unprecedented insights into the evolutionary history of Homo sapiens by analyzing ancient southern African genomes. This research, utilizing over tenfold coverage genomes of ancient Africans alongside pre-Neolithic Eurasians, archaic Neandertals, and Denisovans, sheds new light on the genetic diversity, population structure, and demographic changes that have shaped early human evolution specifically within Africa. The comprehensive genomic data reveal nuanced patterns of genetic divergence and population dynamics extending back hundreds of thousands of years, offering a refined perspective on our…...

10+ hour, 6+ min ago (576+ words) Legend once had it that the huge, three-toed footprints scattered across the central highlands of Bolivia came from supernaturally strong monsters " capable of sinking their claws even into solid stone. Then scientists came here in the 1960s and dispelled children's fears, determining that the strange footprints in fact belonged to gigantic, two-legged dinosaurs that stomped and splashed over 60 million years ago, in the ancient waterways of what is now Toro Toro, a village and popular national park in the Bolivian Andes. "There's no place in the world where you have such a big abundance of (theropod) footprints," said Roberto Biaggi, a co-author of the study led by Spanish paleontologist Ra'l Esperante. "We have all these world records at this particular site." The dinosaurs that ruled the earth and roamed this region also made awkward attempts to swim here, according to the…...