National Geographic News - Paleontology

Oldest Land-Walker Tracks Found--Pushes Back Evolution

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The first vertebrates to walk the Earth emerged from the sea almost 20 million years earlier than previously thought, say scientists who have discovered footprints from an eight-foot-long prehistoric creature.

Early Whale Was Dwarf Mud-Sucker, Fossils Hint

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Unearthed in southeastern Australia, the tiny, ancient whale likely captured its prey by slurping up mouthfuls of mud from the seafloor, scientists say.

Top Ten Dinosaur and Fossil Finds: Most Viewed of 2009

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Large, "lost," or simply unusual, a bevy of prehistoric beasts were brought to life in National Geographic News's most popular paleontology stories of the year.

Venomous Dinosaur Discovered--Shocked Prey Like Snake?

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Jurassic Park may have had it partly right. Some raptors did have venom, though it was more stupefying than lethal, a new study suggests.

Prehistoric Pygmy Sea Cow Discovered in Madagascar

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The fossil "water bushpig"—as the locals call it—fills in a gap between primitive land-dwelling mammals to today's aquatic sea cows, a new study says.

New T.Rex Cousin Suggests Dinosaurs Arose in S. America

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The newfound, 215-million-year-old species suggests dinosaurs originated in what is now South Americaand reveals the roots of the lineage that spawned T. rex and, eventually, birds.

Top Ten Discoveries of 2009: Nat Geo News's Most Viewed

Wed, 2 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

National Geographic News's most popular coverage of 2009 scientific finds is swarming with megamouth sharks, giant snakes, a transparent-headed fish, and rare species rescued from obscurity—then eaten.

Oldest Land-Walker Tracks Found--Pushes Back Evolution

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

"Lost" Amazon Complex Found; Shapes Seen by Satellite

Mon, 4 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Hundreds of circles, squares, and other geometric shapes once hidden by forest hint at a previously unknown ancient society that flourished in the Amazon, a new study says.

Early Whale Was Dwarf Mud-Sucker, Fossils Hint

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Unearthed in southeastern Australia, the tiny, ancient whale likely captured its prey by slurping up mouthfuls of mud from the seafloor, scientists say.