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3+ hour, 23+ min ago (222+ words) The research presented by Zheng, Liang, and Shi ultimately opens up a myriad of questions about the evolutionary adaptations of species facing environmental stresses. It emphasizes the necessity for continuous exploration and understanding of nature's intricacies, paving the way for novel insights that bridge ecological theory and evolutionary biology. This compelling study lays the foundation for a more nuanced understanding of reptilian adaptations and offers a clear call to action for future investigations. As researchers continue to unravel the complexities of the natural world, studies like this underline the significance of even the smallest anatomical features and their far-reaching implications for survival. In summary, the exploration of toe fringes in lizards has unveiled a remarkable aspect of evolutionary adaptation, demonstrating that seemingly minor features can have major ecological ramifications. The findings from this study not only enrich the scientific discourse…...

5+ hour, 14+ min ago (291+ words) Anacondas reached their massive form around 12.4 million years ago and have stayed the same since. The finding was published in the Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology, and challenges the long-held assumption that ancient anacondas must have been much larger than today's snakes because they lived in a warmer world. Between 12.4 and 5.3 million years ago, during the Middle to Upper Miocene, many animals grew to enormous sizes. Warmer global temperatures, widespread wetlands, and abundant prey allowed creatures like the 12-metre Purussaurus (a giant caiman) and the 3.2-metre Stupendemys, one of the largest freshwater turtles ever, to survive without struggle. "This is a surprising result because we expected to find the ancient anacondas were seven or eight metres long," said lead author Andres Alfonso-Rojas. Modern green anacondas reach 4 to 5 metres, with rare cases of them stretching up to 7 metres. Researchers measured 183 fossilised anaconda…...

7+ hour, 48+ min ago (498+ words) Scientists reveal how a deep-sea "living fossil" bridges octopus and squid evolution. The vampire squid is a creature straight out of a gothic horror film. It lurks in the deep-sea abyss, cloaked in dark, webbed arms, its massive eyes glowing red or blue. The dramatic scientific name " Vampyroteuthis infernalis " literally translates to "vampire squid from hell". But its scary reputation is entirely undeserved. This animal does not suck blood but rather feeds peacefully on organic detritus. For all its drama, the vampire squid is a deep-sea scavenger or, as scientists like to call it, "an opportunistic detritivorous and zooplanktivorous feeder." Among soft-bodied cephalopods, vampire squids live life at a slower pace. At ocean depths from 500 to 3,000 meters, they don't swim so much as float, and they get by with little oxygen while consuming a low-calorie diet. Now, a team of…...

7+ hour, 49+ min ago (549+ words) Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the University of Southampton, and specializes in animal behavior, evolution, palaeontology, and the environment.View full profile Katy has a BA in Humanities and Philosophy, with over 20 years of experience in online and print publishing. She was named the Association of British Science Writers' Editor of the Year in 2023. The biggest anaconda news since Paul Rudd and Jack Black teamed up. Image credit: Daniel10ortegaven, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons A new study has reconstructed anacondas that lived in what's now Venezuela 12 million years ago. The fossil vertebrae reveal that anacondas were giants back in the Middle to Upper Miocene and have stayed giant ever since, an unusual trend for life on Earth. Most animals that lived between 12.4 to 5.3 million years ago have gotten smaller over time in response to environmental changes. Back then the…...

7+ hour, 49+ min ago (553+ words) A study of anaconda fossils shows that these snakes reached their maximum size 12.4 million years ago and then stopped growing." As some of the planet's largest snakes, anacondas commonly measure 4 to 5 metres, but some can reach 7 metres. In this new work, researchers led by the University of Cambridge examined 183 fossilized anaconda backbones collected in Falc'n State, Venezuela. All these fossils belong to at least 32 distinct snakes. The team calculated that the ancient snakes were four to five metres long. This is the same impressive, powerful size as the anacondas that coil through the Amazon today. "By measuring the fossils, we found that anacondas evolved a large body size shortly after they appeared in tropical South America around 12.4 million years ago, and their size hasn't changed since," said Andr's Alfonso-Rojas, lead author. It shows that the anaconda survived the climatic changes…...

12+ hour, 43+ min ago (344+ words) A new species of the sauropod dinosaur genus Mamenchisaurus has been discovered in China dating back to the Late Jurassic epoch. Mamenchisaurus sanjiangensis roamed our planet during the Early Oxfordian age of the Jurassic period, some 160 million years ago. This dinosaur was a diverged mamenchisaurid, shares a relatively near relationship with most other Mamenchisaurus species. "The Late Jurassic sedimentary units of China preserve rich sauropod records, and most of them are dominated by mamenchisaurids, although the exact neosauropodan remains are widely recognized from early Middle Jurassic." "The dominance of Asian sauropod faunas is quite different from that of contemporaneous European and North and South American Formations." "Moreover, most of the Late Jurassic Asian sauropod diversity comes from the deposits assigned to the lower parts, particularly near the Middle-Late Jurassic transition period." The single partial skeleton of Mamenchisaurus sanjiangensis was unearthed…...

12+ hour, 49+ min ago (359+ words) " The best Cyber Monday deals you can shop right now (updating) " Published Dec 1, 2025 7:01 PM EST At roughly the length of a small school bus, anacondas are famously some of the world's largest snakes. Now fossil evidence proves that these enormous reptiles are also glimpses of an ancient world. According to a study published on December 1st in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, anacondas reached their maximum length around 12.4 million years ago'and have remained giants ever since. A number of factors contributed to the Miocene growth spurt, such as warmer and wetter climates as well as plenty of food to support large animals. But while evolution often eventually favored (relatively) smaller species, one group of snakes has stayed the same for millions of years. "Other species like giant crocodiles and giant turtles have gone extinct since the Miocene, probably due to cooling…...

14+ hour, 35+ min ago (586+ words) A gigantic 8 m long mega-predatory shark stalks an unwary long-necked plesiosaur in the seas off Australia 115 million years ago. Image credit: Polyanna von Knorring, Swedish Museum of Natural History. Sharks are iconic predators in the oceans today, and can trace their ancestry back over 400 million years. However, the evolutionary history of modern shark lineages began during the age of dinosaurs, with the oldest known fossils dating from around 135 million years ago. Known as lamniforms, these early modern sharks were small, possibly only about 1 m long, but over time would give rise to giants, such as the famous'megalodon that may have exceeded 17 m in length, and the living great white shark, which is an apex-predator in today's oceans and tops the scales at around 6 m. Sharks have cartilaginous skeletons; their fossil record is mostly represented by teeth, which sharks shed continuously as…...

16+ hour, 1+ min ago (193+ words) A teenager's summer dig in Montana led to an unexpected scientific moment, offering a rare glimpse into ancient history and highlighting a student's growing passion for discovery. Teen unearths 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossil on first day of Montana dig A teenager's summer dig in Montana led to an unexpected scientific moment, offering a rare glimpse into ancient history and highlighting a student's growing passion for discovery. A summer trip changed a student's life in Montana. A 150-million-year-old fossil came from his careful hands. The ancient bone surfaced during a dig near Red Lodge. The find brought fresh pride to a small Connecticut school. How did a student uncover a Jurassic fossil? What support helped him join the Montana dig? What plans does the student hold for his future? Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights,…...

16+ hour, 10+ min ago (318+ words) Few creatures inspire fear like the Kraken, a giant tentacled monster from folklore. Although most often associated with Norse mythology, Greek sources also describe enormous sea creatures with massive arms and incredible strength, terrifying sailors and fueling legends of monstrous beings lurking in the deep. Ancient accounts reflect the awe and danger inspired by the vast, unpredictable ocean. Both Aristotle and Pliny the Elder mentioned giant squids, noting their immense size and elusive behavior. In his History of Animals, Aristotle described cephalopods with long tentacles, emphasizing practical observations of sailors encountering unusual sea life. Pliny recorded sightings of massive squid-like creatures, attributing to them the power to drag prey into the depths. Modern science confirms that giant squids (Architeuthis dux) can reach lengths of over 13 meters. Encounters with these deep-sea giants help explain the ancient stories and the fear they…...