National Geographic News - Paleontology

India Asteroid Killed Dinosaurs, Made Largest Crater?

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

What may be "the largest crater known on Earth" could be proof that the dinosaurs' demise was due to two giant space rocks that struck in Mexico and India, scientists say.

ODD NEW PTEROSAUR: "Darwin's Wing" Fills Evolution Gap

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A newfound fossil predator, which may have hunted other flyers, is a hodgepodge of older and more modern flying reptiles, scientists say, bridging a gap in pterosaur evolution.

World's Biggest Snake Lived in 1st "Modern" Rain Forest

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

If the largest snake that ever lived were still slithering today, it would feel right at home in South America's rain forests, newfound fossils from the snake's ancient home reveal.

A Third of Dinosaur Species Never Existed?

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Young dinosaurs weren't Mini-Me versions of their parents, new evidence suggests—meaning that up to a third of dinosaur species may be misidentified.

New Giant Lizard: Komodo Cousin "A Nasty Piece of Work"

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Bigger and badder than the deadly Komodo dragon, a mysterious prehistoric lizard may be a new species, say scientists piecing together the Australian origins of reptilian giants.

8-Horned T. Rex Cousin Found--Dinosaur Was "Ballerina"

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A sleek, "ballerina like" cousin of Tyrannosaurus rex has been unearthed in the Gobi desert, a find that reveals fearsome "tyrant lizards" were more diverse than thought.

Ardi's Secret: Did Early Humans Start Walking for Sex?

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Why don't women know when they're ovulating? Why don't men have clacker-sized testicles? The world's oldest known "human" skeleton—"Ardi"—may hold clues.

Mighty T. Rex Killed by Pigeon Parasite?

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A new look at holes in a T. rex's jawbone suggests the battle-scarred behemoth was ultimately taken down by a parasite akin to one that infects modern birds, scientists say.

"Sea Monster" Bones Reveal Ancient Shark Feeding Frenzy

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A 23-foot-long behemoth may have been finished off by a gang of sharks 85 million years ago, according to a new analysis of fossil bones studded with shark teeth.

Tiny "T. Rex" Found -- 150-Pound Species Came First

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

No heavier than a small man, Raptorex was Mini-Me to T. rex's dinosaur Dr. Evil. But in this case, the tiny gave rise to the titanic.