What's happened
Recent fossil discoveries from Morocco, Argentina, and the UK deepen understanding of prehistoric life. Spicomellus, the oldest ankylosaur, had unique bony spikes; Janjucetus dullardi offers clues on whale evolution; and Istiorachis shows elaborate sail features. These findings expand knowledge of early ecosystems.
What's behind the headline?
The recent fossil finds underscore the importance of regional diversity in understanding prehistoric ecosystems. The Moroccan Spicomellus, with its fused spikes, challenges existing notions of ankylosaur evolution, suggesting that elaborate armor appeared much earlier than previously thought. The Argentine Kostensuchus, a large predator from the late Cretaceous, highlights the complexity of terrestrial ecosystems at high paleolatitudes, indicating that apex predators thrived in diverse environments. Meanwhile, the UK’s Istiorachis, with its exaggerated sail-like neural spines, suggests that sexual selection played a significant role in dinosaur evolution, similar to modern reptiles. These discoveries collectively demonstrate that early ecosystems were more diverse and complex, with adaptations driven by environmental pressures and social behaviors. The integration of advanced imaging techniques, such as CT scans, has been pivotal in revealing internal structures, offering a more comprehensive understanding of these ancient creatures. Overall, these findings will likely influence future research directions, emphasizing regional variation and the role of sexual and environmental factors in evolution.
What the papers say
The Independent’s coverage of the Moroccan ankylosaur Spicomellus highlights its unique bony spikes and potential display functions, emphasizing its significance as the oldest ankylosaur and its implications for dinosaur armor evolution. The article quotes Professor Richard Butler, describing the fossils as 'utterly unlike any other found anywhere else in the world,' and notes the possibility that the elaborate armor was used for display rather than defense.
In contrast, the article from Gulf News focuses on the discovery of Spicomellus as the oldest ankylosaur, emphasizing its age and the significance of the Moroccan fossils in expanding the timeline of ankylosaur evolution. It highlights the discovery's contribution to understanding how dinosaurs diversified following environmental changes in the Jurassic.
Both sources agree on the importance of the Moroccan fossils but differ slightly in emphasis: The Independent emphasizes the creature's bizarre armor and potential display functions, while Gulf News underscores its role in extending the known history of ankylosaurs in Africa.
The UK’s The Independent also reports on the discovery of Istiorachis, a new species of iguanodontian dinosaur with exaggerated sail-like neural spines, likely used for sexual signaling. The article quotes Dr. Lockwood and Professor Maidment, discussing the evolutionary significance of the sail and its probable role in mating displays, highlighting the importance of museum collections in advancing paleontological knowledge.
Overall, these articles collectively illustrate how regional fossil discoveries are reshaping our understanding of prehistoric ecosystems, with a focus on evolutionary adaptations driven by environmental and social factors.
How we got here
The recent discoveries build on decades of paleontological research, with Morocco emerging as a key site for Jurassic fossils, Argentina revealing early marine reptiles, and the UK providing new data on Cretaceous dinosaurs. Advances in imaging and excavation techniques have enabled more detailed analysis of fossils, revealing previously unknown features and evolutionary traits.
Go deeper
Common question
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What Do Recent Fossil Finds Reveal About Dinosaurs and Whales?
Recent discoveries of fossils in Morocco, Argentina, and the UK are shedding new light on prehistoric life. From ancient ankylosaurs to early whales, these finds help us understand how ecosystems looked millions of years ago. Curious about what these fossils tell us about the past? Keep reading to explore the latest in paleontology and what it means for our understanding of Earth's history.
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What Do Recent Fossil Finds Reveal About Ancient Life?
Recent fossil discoveries from Morocco, Argentina, and the UK are reshaping our understanding of prehistoric ecosystems. From the oldest ankylosaur remains to detailed early arthropods and new whale species, these finds offer exciting insights into Earth's distant past. Curious about what these fossils tell us about ancient animals and environments? Keep reading to explore the latest breakthroughs in paleontology.
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What Are the Latest Discoveries in Ancient Life and Dinosaurs?
Recent fossil finds from around the world are reshaping our understanding of prehistoric life. From the oldest ankylosaur with unique armor to new insights into whale evolution, these discoveries reveal how ancient ecosystems and species evolved. Curious about what new fossils have been uncovered and what they tell us? Below are some of the most intriguing questions and answers about today's latest paleontological breakthroughs.
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What Do Recent Fossil Finds Reveal About Ancient Ecosystems?
Recent fossil discoveries from Morocco, Argentina, and the UK are shedding new light on prehistoric ecosystems and the creatures that inhabited them. These findings help us understand how ancient life evolved and adapted to changing environments. Curious about what these fossils tell us and why they matter? Keep reading to explore the latest insights into Earth's deep past.
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How Do Recent Fossil Discoveries Change Our Understanding of Prehistoric Life?
Recent fossil finds from Morocco, Argentina, and the UK are reshaping what we know about ancient ecosystems and evolution. These discoveries reveal new species, unique features, and evolutionary adaptations that challenge previous theories. Curious about how these fossils influence science? Below are some common questions and answers about their significance and the technologies used to analyze them.
More on these topics
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Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country located in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, with land borders with Algeria to the east and Western Sahara to th
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A natural history museum or museum of natural history is a scientific institution with natural history collections that include current and historical records of animals, plants, fungi, ecosystems, geology, paleontology, climatology, and more.
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Dame Ellen Patricia MacArthur DBE is a retired English sailor, from Whatstandwell near Matlock in Derbyshire, now based in Cowes, Isle of Wight.
MacArthur is a successful solo long-distance yachtswoman.
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Susannah Catherine Rose Maidment is a British palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum, London. She is internationally recognised for her research on ornithischian dinosaur evolution, and was awarded the 2016 Hodson Award of the Palaeontological Asso
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The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range in the Maghreb. It separates the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert. It stretches around 2,500 km through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The range's highest peak is Toubkal, which is in cen
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Spicomellus is an extinct genus of herbivorous ankylosaurian dinosaur that lived in the supercontinent Gondwana during the Middle Jurassic Period. The type and only known species is Spicomellus afer, named and described in 2021.