nandi's blog

Mysterious Bone Discovery Unearths New Triassic Species

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Dinosaurs: The ancient marine reptile had a bone not found in its species before (Image: GETTY/Qing-Hua Shang, Xiao-Chun Wu and Chun, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology)

DINOSAUR fossils continue to be found all around the world, with a bombshell discovery in China throwing into question a new species' underwater capabilities.

Analysis of two skeletons has revealed a new species of nothosaur. The group of reptiles lived in water during the Triassic period, over 200 million years ago. Around 60cm-long, the skeletons were identified as nothosaurus due to their extremely small heads, wide snouts, long necks and flipper-like limbs

However, researchers noted in their study that the two specimens "differed from other known nothosaurus, mainly in having an unusually short tail".

Dr Qing-Hua Shang, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, explained how the new species might have been adapted differently than other nothosaurus'.

He explained: "A long tail can be used to flick through the water, generating thrust, but the new species we've identified was probably better suited to hanging out near the bottom in shallow sea."

It has since been named Brevicaudosaurus jiyangshanensis.

The newly discovered recital was able to use its short, flattened tail for balance.

Dr Shang described it to BBC Science Focus magazine "like an underwater float".

This meant B.jiyangshanensis didn't have to use much energy in order to move through the water while looking for prey.

Brevicaudosaurus jiyangshanensis: The find revealed a completely new species of the reptile (Image: Qing-Hua Shang, Xiao-Chun Wu and Chun, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology)

Other adaptations included strong forelimbs, short front feet, and dense bones.

The researchers say these characteristics increased the animal's stability while underwater.

They would have, however, limited its ability to swim at speed.

Meanwhile, B.jiyangshanensis natural buoyancy was increased by its thick set bones.

While in shallow water, the reptile's density was the same as the density of the water - meaning it didn't sink or rise, and could float almost effortlessly.

The size of its ribs also suggests the reptile had large lungs.

Ancient history latest: A new bone in in the middle ear, called the stapes, stunned researchers (Image: Qing-Hua Shang, Xiao-Chun Wu and Chun, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology)

This increased the amount of time it could hunt for food underwater.

The head of the new species also sparked interests for researchers, who found a bone in the middle ear, called the stapes.

It was initially expected to be thin, similar to other marine reptiles of the time.

Yet, the staple was found to be "relatively massive, compared with that of some aquatic reptiles", and was thick and bar-shaped.

As the bone is used for sound transmission, the scientists say B.jiyangshanensis may have had extremely acute hearing underwater.

Dr Xiao-Chun Wu, from the Canadian Museum of Nature, said: "Perhaps this small, slow-swimming marine recital had to be vigilant for large predators as it floated in the shallows, as well as being a predator itself."

Source: www.express.co.uk/

Best Dinosaur Toys For All Ages

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Does anything go together better than kids and dinosaurs? If you've got a youngster in your life who loves these prehistoric beasts, we have suggestions for toys that will spark their imagination and curiosity. We've focused on toys with proven STEM-learning benefits, such as opportunities for open-ended play and spatial reasoning. And for the sake of quarantined parents everywhere, we've ignored anything with strobing lights and loud noises. Whatever the age of the budding paleontologist on your list, we think you'll find something to suit them here. 

BEST DINOSAUR TOY DEAL FOR TODDLERS

Learning Resources Steggy the Fine Motor Dino: $14.39 at Amazon


 

Recommended for ages 18 months to 4 years, this plastic Stegosaurus will delight little ones with its bright colors and removable spikey plates (called "scutes" for the little paleontologist). Steggy the Fine Motor Dino includes 10 numbered scutes in five bright colors. Right now, Amazon is selling the dino-toy for nearly 50% off.VIEW DEAL

LEGO Jurassic World Dr. Wu's Lab: Baby Dinosaurs Breakout: $19.99 at Amazon


 

What's cuter than a baby dinosaur?? For your budding paleontologist, the answer is likely "nothing." After following the easy-to-understand instructions, kids can dream up their own tales of scientific breakthroughs and dinosaur escapes with two minifigures — Owen Grady and Dr. Henry Wu — plus baby Triceratops and Ankylosaurus toy figures. And Amazon is offering the set at a great price.VIEW DEAL

 

BEST DINOSAUR BOOK DEAL

Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs Pop-Up Book: $19.59 at Amazon

This stunning hardback book recounts the history of paleantology, is packed with intricacy and features some of the most well-known dinosaurs springing to life in the most intricate pop-up designs we've ever seen. It is a top-quality product that now comes with a great discount.
 VIEW DEAL

DINOSAUR TOYS FOR INFANTS & TODDLERS (0-2)

BEST DINOSAUR TOY FOR BABIES

VTech Chomp and Count Dino: $19.82 on Amazon

Your baby can feed this adorable dinosaur any of eight brightly colored pieces … and as the dino chomps, it gives fun responses. Along the way, your 1- to 3-year-old will learn about colors, foods, shapes and counting. You can set the play mode to either “counting" or “meal.” And the dinosaur will even ask for particular food pieces, so your baby can learn to identify which food is which. VIEW DEAL

Dinosaur Puzzles: $22.69 at Amazon

These brightly-colored dinosaur puzzles are just the toy to get your little one excited about playtime … and learning. Each of the six puzzles is made of smooth-edged wooden pieces covered in non-toxic paint. Not only will kids get to hone their fine motor skills, but they will learn about problem-solving and a tad of paleontology. With your help, they can piece together Tyrannosaurus rexTriceratops, Oviraptor, BrachiosaurusParasaurolophus and a Pterosaur — though Pterosaurs lived among the dinosaurs, they are not dinosaurs but rather flying reptiles.
VIEW DEAL

 

Glow-in-the-Dark Dinosaur Wall Decals: $19.69 at Amazon

Give your little one’s room a Jurassic Park feel with these glow-in-the-dark dinosaur decals. Even during the day, the wall art will draw in baby’s eyes with the vibrant colors. All the usual suspects are included: T. rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops and more. Each package includes 42 decals: four large dinosaurs, two trees,17 stars, four clouds, five stones and six dinosaur-era plants.
VIEW DEAL

 

Dino Tails Book: $16.50 on Amazon

The youngest babies love crinkly books and touch-and-feel textures, and this soft book from JellyCat delivers. Smooth, fuzzy, crinkly — let this be your baby's first dinosaur book.
VIEW DEAL

 

Dinosaur wooden toddler puzzles: $29.99 at Amazon

These wooden puzzles are a perfect introduction to shape-matching for toddlers as young as age 2. Each puzzle has only three or four pieces, so they're simple to finish. They come with their own carrying case for containing pieces and preventing any parts from getting lost. VIEW DEAL

 

SmartMax My First Dinosaurs: $21.99 on Amazon

Kids can explore dinosaurs and magnets at the same time with these mix-and-match pieces for 1-year-olds and up. The set comes with 14 pieces that can construct five separate dinosaurs in any combination your little paleontologist would prefer.
VIEW DEAL

 

DINOSAUR TOYS FOR PRESCHOOLERS (3-4)

BEST DINOSAUR PUZZLE FOR TOTS

Melissa & Doug Dinosaur Puzzle: $9.86 at Amazon

Perfect for preschoolers age 3 and older, this large, 48-piece floor puzzle features a slew of dinosaurs in a swamp-like setting. The pieces are durable and wipe clean for easy reuse. VIEW DEAL

 

DUPLO My First Dinosaur$11.95 at Amazon

These simple sets are ideal for 3-year-olds (and can be enjoyed by even younger kids). The seven included pieces can be made into four different dinosaurs… or any other creature of the imagination.
VIEW DEAL

 

Back in Time Dinosaur Counters: $18.64 at Amazon

Get your dinosaur-loving preschooler interested in math with these cute dinosaur counters from Learning Resources. Each bucket comes with 72 counters in six different shapes and colors. Count, sort, add, subtract and compare numbers for early math literacy and color and shape learning. VIEW DEAL

 

Plush Dinosaur House: $29.00 on Amazon

Carry five prehistoric pals around with this dinosaur hotel shaped like an egg. Kids can use their imaginations to play with these small plush dinos, and will enjoy arranging them in their carrying case when they're done. VIEW DEAL

 

Kidtastic Dinosaur Construction Toys: $29.99 at Amazon

Using a kid-sized screwdriver and screws, children can put together and take apart three different dinosaurs in this STEM kit. If you know a kid who loves construction sites and dinosaurs, this may be the gift for you.VIEW DEAL

 

BEST DINOSAUR TOYS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN (5-7)

Creative Kids Dinosaur Craft Kit: $18.93 at Amazon

Prehistoric anatomy comes to life with this modeling clay kit that comes with three dinosaur skeletons. Kids can pile on clay (and wiggly eyes!) and create colorful, textured skin for their prehistoric TriceratopsT. rex and Stegosaurus.VIEW DEAL

 

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs: $13.45 on Amazon

Perfectly pegged for the kindergarten and early-elementary crowd, this book features two-page spreads on 52 different dinosaurs, grouped by size. It's an engaging read-aloud for pre-readers, while also being accessible for older kids to read on their own. And adults might learn a thing or two, too. VIEW DEAL

Feathered T. rex$24.93 on Amazon

Safari, Ltd. has a long history of creating realistic, accurate dinosaur models. Between 1988 and 2015, the company produced dinosaur figurines for the Carnegie Collection, a partnership with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Sadly, the Carnegie Collection is no more, but Safari, Ltd. still produces an excellent line of prehistoric creatures, including this T. rex with feathers. VIEW DEAL

Meland Dino Eggs Dig Kit: $21.99 on Amazon

If only real paleontologists had it this easy. After chipping through these plaster eggs, kids will find fully-articulated, ready-to-paint dinosaurs inside. Be sure the guardians of the kids on your shopping list don't mind a little mess, as it's recommended to soak the plaster eggs in water for at least 10 minutes to soften them before letting kids break them apart.VIEW DEAL

Plus-Plus Dinosaur Play Set: $28.16 on Amazon

Plus-Plus blocks are versatile little building pieces from Denmark. This set comes with 480 pieces and instructions to make dueling dinosaurs: a sauropod and a stegosaurus. For kids on the younger side who might prefer larger pieces, Plus-Plus sells a Stegosaurus kit made from its big blocks, which are more than double the size of  the original blocks.VIEW DEAL

 

BEST DINOSAUR TOYS FOR OLDER CHILDREN (8-10)

BEST LEGO DINOSAUR DEAL

LEGO Mighty Dinosaurs: $11.99 at Amazon

This nifty LEGO kit includes 174 pieces and instructions to build a poseable T. rex. Even better, when your little creator is tired of the king of dinosaurs, the same pieces can be broken down and repurposed to make a Triceratops or a Pterodactyl. (It's temporarily out of stock as of press time, but we'd be remiss if we didn't also point you to this fantastic Dinosaur Fossil set, which lets you build your own LEGO hall of natural history.) VIEW DEAL

 

World of the Dinosaurs Wall Map Poster: $15.99 on Amazon

Know a kid who hunts for fossils in his or her own backyard? This colorful wall poster shows where dinosaur fossils are found on a modern map of the world, along with when the creatures lived. VIEW DEAL

Created by Me! Dinosaur Figurines Craft Kit: $7.97 on Amazon

Melissa & Doug's craft kit comes with two solid resin dinosaur figurines and six pots of paint. Kids can let their imaginations run wild — what color was Apatosaurus, anyway? VIEW DEAL

 

National Geographic Dino Fossil Dig Kit: $9.99 on Amazon

 

Kids can practice paleontology with this dinosaur dig kit, which contains three actual fossils (a bit of dinosaur bone, a mosasaur tooth and a coprolite, or fossilized dinosaur poop). VIEW DEAL

 

Source: www.livescience.com/

Falcatakely forsterae: Cretaceous-Period Bird from Madagascar Had Sickle-Shaped Beak

Monday, December 28, 2020

Falcatakely forsterae amidst non-avian dinosaurs and other animals from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. Image credit: Mark Witton.

Paleontologists in Madagascar have identified a new genus and species of enantiornithine bird that had a long and deep beak, a morphology that was previously unknown among Mesozoic birds.

The newly-identified bird species lived between 70 and 68 million years ago (Late Cretaceous epoch) in what is now Madagascar.

Named Falcatakely forsterae, it belongs to Enantiornithines, an extinct group of birds known exclusively from the Cretaceous and predominantly from fossils discovered in Asia.

“Enantiornithines represent the first great diversification of early birds, occupying ecosystems alongside their non-avian relatives such as Velociraptor and Tyrannosaurus,” said Dr. Alan Turner, a researcher in the Department of Anatomical Sciences at Stony Brook University.

“Unlike the first birds, such as Archaeopteryx, with long tails and primitive features in the skull, enantiornithines like Falcatakely forsterae would have looked relatively modern.”

Life reconstruction of Falcatakely forsterae with its unique beak. Image credit: Mark Witton.

Falcatakely forsterae was small, about the size of a crow, and had a sickle-shaped beak.

“We don’t really know why certain beak shapes evolve, but we do know they are used for a multitude of functions such as object manipulation, feather grooming, feeding, and other life-sustaining behaviors,” Dr. Turner said.

“In the case of Falcatakely forsterae, that was probably the same and it is significant to discover that this early bird during the Cretaceous had such a uniquely evolved beak.”

Falcatakely forsterae is known from a well-preserved partial skull found in northwestern Madagascar.

“The exquisite quality of preservation is outstanding and reveals many important details,” the paleontologists said.

“As one example, a complex series of grooves on the external surface of bones making up the side of the face indicate that the animal hosted an expansive keratinous covering, or beak, in life.”

Life reconstruction of Falcatakely forsterae. Image credit: Mark Witton.

Using high-resolution micro-computed tomography and digital modeling, they virtually dissected individual bones from the rock.

“It was quickly apparent that bones making up the face in Falcatakely forsterae are organized quite unlike those of any dinosaur, avian or non-avian, despite having a face superficially similar to a number of modern bird groups alive today,” they said.

“All living birds build the skeleton of their beaks in a very specific way. It’s mostly formed by a single enlarged bone call the premaxilla.”

“In constrast, most birds from the age of dinosaurs, like the iconic Archaeopteryx, have relatively unspecialized snouts comprised of a small premaxilla and a large maxilla.”

“Surprisingly, in Falcatakely forsterae we found this similar primitive arrangement of bones but with an overall face shape reminiscent of certain modern birds with a high, long upper bill and completely unlike anything known in the Mesozoic.”

“It turns out you can make a modern looking beak in multiple ways,” Dr. Turner said.

“The developmental basis for the skeleton of modern beaks didn’t need to be there for a ‘modern’ looking beak to evolve.”

The discovery is described in a paper in the journal Nature.

_____

P.M. O’Connor et al. Late Cretaceous bird from Madagascar reveals unique development of beaks. Nature, published online November 25, 2020; doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2945-x

Source: www.sci-news.com/

Could Dinosaurs Evolve Back Into Existence?

Friday, November 27, 2020

Fossils suggest face-offs between T. rex and Triceratops were common. Shutterstock

What an interesting question! Well, technically dinosaurs are still here in the form of birds. Just like you’re a direct descendant of your grandparents, birds are the only remaining direct descendants of dinosaurs.

But I suppose what you’re really asking is whether dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus or Triceratops could ever exist again. Although that would be fascinating, the answer is almost definitely no.

While there’s only one generation between you and your grandparents – that is, your parents – there are many millions of generations between today’s birds and their ancient dinosaurs ancestors.

This is why today’s birds look, sound and behave so differently to the prehistoric beasts that once roamed Earth.

Animals evolve to change, but can’t choose how

To understand this, we have to understand “evolution”. This is a process that explains how every living thing (including humansevolved from past living things over millions, or even billions, of years.

Different animals evolve their own differences to help them survive in the world. For example, 66 million years ago, birds survived the catastrophic event that killed all other dinosaurs and marked the end of the Mesozoic era.

Tyrannosaurus rex belonged to a dinosaur group called theropods. Shutterstock

After this, a blanket of ash wrapped around the world, cooling it and blocking out the sunlight plants need to survive. Plant-eating animals would have struggled to stay alive.

But birds did, perhaps because they were small even then. They likely ate seeds and insects and took shelter in small spaces. And being able to fly would have helped them explore far and wide for food and shelter.

That said, if the conditions that came after the dinosaur extinction event returned today, no modern animal would evolve back into a dinosaur. This is because animals today have a very different evolutionary past to dinosaurs.

They evolved to have features that help them survive in today’s world, rather than a prehistoric one. And these features limit the ways they can evolve in the future.

Which came first, the chicken or the dinosaur?

For an animal to be an actual “dinosaur”, it must belong to a group of animals known by scientists as Dinosauria. These all descended from a common ancestor shared by Triceratops and modern birds.

Other than birds, Dinosauria doesn’t include any living creature. So for a dinosaur to re-evolve in the future, it would have to come from a bird.

 

Dinosauria’s extinct members included sauropods, stegosaurs, ankylosaurs, ornithopods, ceratopsians and non-bird theropods. Modern birds evolved from a small group of theropods. However, since so much time has passed, this link is limited.

Specifically, birds have a very different collection of “genes”. These are the same built-in “rules” your parents passed down to you that decide, for example, what colour your eyes will be.

The more generations that pass between an ancestor and their descendant, the more different their genes will be.

Even if it could happen, what would this take?

Think of how much a bird would need to change to look like Tyrannosaurus rex or Triceratops. A lot.

Dinosaurs had long tails with bones all along them. Birds’ tails are stumpy and have been for more than 100 million years. It’s unlikely this would ever be reversed.

While some types of birds have long tail feathers, such as falcons (above) and pheasants, on the inside their tails are short. Shutterstock

Also, modern birds walk on their back legs only and (in most cases) have four toes and three “fingers” in their wings.

Compare that with Triceratops, which walked on all four limbs, had five fingers on its front feet (the inner three of which were weight-bearing) and four toes on its back feet.

It may not be impossible for birds to gain two more fingers to have five like Triceratops; some people with a condition called “polydactyly” have more than five fingers, but this is very rare.

There aren’t really any situations where an extra finger (or one less) would be necessary for a bird’s survival. Thus, there’s little to no chance birds will evolve to change in this way.

Most birds have four toes and three ‘fingers’ in their wings. Shutterstock

Even if birds did eventually start to walk on all four limbs (legs and wings), they wouldn’t move the same way a Triceratops did because the purpose of a bird’s wings is very different to that of a Triceratops’s legs.

Dinosaurs are history

We know from fossil discoveries that Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus had scaly skin covering most of their bodies. Most modern birds have scaly feet, but none are scaly all over.

It’s hard to imagine what would force any bird to naturally replace its feathers with scales. Birds need feathers to fly, to save energy (by staying warm) and to put on special displays to attract mates.

Triceratops did have a “beak” at the front of its mouth, but this evolved completely separately to the beaks of birds and had two extra bones — something no living animal has.

Although Triceratops had a ‘beak’ this was very different to a bird’s beak. Stephen Poropat/American Museum of Natural History

What’s more, behind its beak and jaws, Triceratops had rows of teeth. While some birds such as geese have spiky beaks. No bird in the past 66 million years has ever had teeth.

Considering these huge differences, it’s really unlikely birds will ever evolve to look more like their extinct dinosaur relatives. And no extinct dinosaur will ever come back to life either — except maybe in movies!

Source: https://theconversation.com/

Need Help To Keep Your Kids Entertained? Consider Gifting These Popular Toys

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Check out this list of 2020' s hottest toys that are sure to keep your kids entertained and occupied. (BestReviews)

The peak shopping season is upon us, with the holidays right around the corner. That means it’s time to fill out your gift list with this year’s most popular and innovative toys — the ones kids will be excited to receive.

We rounded up some hot new items as well as some enduring old favorites that you won’t want to miss. There’s something for everyone here, with engaging gifts for toddlers and toys that spotlight adolescents’ favorite characters and movies. Even adults will have fun with some of these picks. Read on for all the gift inspiration you’ll need this year.

The Best Toys of 2020

All-New Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids' Edition Tablet: $79.99 at Amazon (was $139.99)

A kid-friendly tablet that promises endless engagement and activity for the young ones in your life. This edition by Amazon features a durable, colorful case and a free year of Amazon Kids, which offers countless books, shows, and games that entertain and educate. Also available at Best Buy.

Hasbro Monopoly: Disney Villains Edition: $24.86 at Amazon (was $29.99)

The iconic board game Monopoly has endured for decades across various iterations. One of our favorites is this Disney villain-inspired version featuring details and references for both casual and longtime fans. Also available at Best Buy and Macy's.

Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad: $24.99 at Amazon

Inspire a young one in your life to get creative! This tracing pad from Crayola features 100 drawings and a variety of color and design options for kids ages 6 and up.

LEGO BrickHeadz Star Wars The Mandalorian & The Child: $43.99 at Amazon

It's hard to get enough of Baby Yoda. These Brickheadz LEGO toys are delightfully cute. The Mandalorian comes with his blasters, while The Child is presented in his hoverpram so they both can be conveniently displayed. Also available at Kohl's.

Playskool Chase N' Go Ball Popper: $32.58 at Amazon

If you’re shopping for a little one, check out this popular and captivating toy by Playskool. Suitable for kids age 9 months and up, this toy pops out balls that they can chase around the room or simply watch and enjoy.

Nintendo Switch Lite: $199 at Amazon

A compact and less-expensive alternative to the Nintendo Switch is the Lite. While it's only a portable console and supports games compatible with handheld mode, it's convenient for those who want to play on the go, and it comes in a variety of colors. Also available at Best Buy.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons for Nintendo Switch: $49.99 at Amazon

It's one of the most popular games for Nintendo Switch, and for good reason. This farming simulation offers gamers a chance to build a colorful, creative, and cute sanctuary while engaging with others online. Also available at Best Buy.

Flybar My First Foam Pogo Stick: $16.99 at Amazon

We're high on the upgrades made to this pogo stick by Flybar, offering safe activity both inside and outdoors. The foam base supports children and doesn't leave any marks, and the stick comes in a variety of colors. Also available at Kohl's and Bed Bath & Beyond.

LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Fire Dragon: $15.99 at Amazon (was $19.99)

LEGO Creator toys deliver versatile and clever creations in every box. We love this set that features three mythical and fantastic creatures to build, including a menacing fire dragon. Also available at Kohl's.

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Card Game: $9.99 at Amazon

This quick and fun card game is as silly as it sounds. With colorful and cute pictures and a straightforward objective, this matching game provides a lot of fun, and some tricks, for all ages. Also available at Kohl's.

Star Wars The Child Plush Toy: $32.99 at Amazon

Whether you call him "The Child" or "Baby Yoda," there's no debating how cute and loveable he is. This 11-inch toy, inspired by the popular Disney+ series "The Mandalorian," is soft enough to cuddle. Young Star Wars fans will love him. Also available at Kohl's.

LeapFrog 100 Animals Book: $13.49 at Amazon (was 17.99)

We love this interactive children’s book that engages kids as they learn about the world’s animals. Colorful sights and curious sounds are sure to hold young ones’ attention, and the book offers lessons in both English and Spanish.

Razor E100 Glow Electric Scooter: $139 at Amazon (was $169.99)

For older kids, this electric scooter is a fun, efficient, and safe way to ride around the neighborhood. It reaches speeds up to 10 mph and its battery lasts 40 minutes per charge. Also available at Dick's Sporting Goods.

Star Wars Mandalorian Darksaber: $24.86 at Amazon (was $29.99)

Many of us are partial to lightsabers, but what about wielding a darksaber? Inspired by "The Clone Wars," this toy darksaber that lights up and makes sounds as kids battle across the Galaxy. Also available at Kohl's and Best Buy.

Jurassic World Roarin' T-Rex Action Figure: $31.99 at Amazon (was $39.99)

Inspired by the animated series "Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous" comes this T-Rex that roars, shakes, and moves. This toy is sure to show kids why the Tyrannosaurus was among the most fearsome predators that ever lived. Also available at Best Buy and Macy's.

Funko Pop! Marvel: Captain America: $12.95 at Amazon

One of our favorite Avengers, Captain America, is featured in an adorable Funko Pop! This version of the noble leader is inspired by “Avengers: Endgame,” holding a broken shield and (spoiler alert!) the mighty hammer of Thor.

Paw Patrol Dino Rescue Patroller: $49.99 at Amazon (was $59.99)

We welcome a less-ferocious T-Rex toy to our list this year, with this adorable figurine coming as part of a fun Paw Patrol set. It features a motorized vehicle and Chase leading the Dino Patrol, ready to wrangle and return the T-Rex home. Also available at Kohl's.

Kid Trax Marvel Spider-Man Electric Ride-On Motorcycle: $65.34 at Amazon (was $79.99)

It doesn't matter that Spider-Man rarely hops on a motorcycle because this cute ride will enthrall all his young fans. Safely designed for ages 18 to 30 months, this battery-powered motorcycle will enchant your toddler throughout the day. Also available at Dick's Sporting Goods.

NERF Fortnite HC-E Mega Dart Blaster: $11.99 at Amazon (was $14.99)

For video game enthusiasts who want to take their "Fortnite" love to the real world, we recommend this NERF blaster inspired by the hit multiplayer game. It's safe and lightweight, and it makes a fun addition to any NERF lineup. Also available at Kohl'sBest Buy, and Macy's.

Mattel Disney Pixar Soul Joe Gardner Plush: $19.99 at Amazon

Disney Pixar’s much-anticipated film”Soul” hits Disney+ in December and tells the story of a musician and teacher seeking inspiration. We love this cute and cuddly plush of Joe’s soul that provides lights and sounds for a truly uplifting experience.

Exploding Kittens Card Game: $9.99 at Amazon (was $20)

We can't get enough of this exuberant and silly card game that finds players trying to avoid the dreaded Exploding Kitten card. This family-friendly version welcomes ages seven and up and makes for a lively and quick game, especially during the holidays. Also available at Best Buy and Kohl's.

Little Live Pets Gotta Go Flamingo: $64.76 at Amazon

Now for something a little odd. This lively plush flamingo chats, sings, wiggles, eats, and fairly often, goes to the bathroom. He comes with his own toilet, and he’ll be sure to let the kids know when he’s gotta go!

Ravensburger Sneaker American Style Puzzle: $19.99 at Amazon

This is no ordinary puzzle. From a trusted name in quality puzzles and games comes this 3D offering, which provides a creative activity and a practical reward upon completion. This sneaker puzzle welcomes ages eight and up.

Funko Pop! DC Heroes: Holiday Wonder Woman: $12.94 at Amazon

This holiday-inspired version of Wonder Woman is both fierce and adorable: She’s bundled up and ready to brave the cold, her Lasso of Truth replaced with one made of Christmas lights that do, in fact, light up. Season’s greetings!

 

We may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Source: www.pilotonline.com/

T. rex Had a Teenage Growth Spurt — But Not All Dinos Did

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Paleontologists analyzed Sue, the world's most complete, best-preserved T. rex, as part of this study. Sue is on display at Chicago's Field Museum.

Researchers have long known that the meat-eating Tyrannosaurus rex had a teenage growth spurt, gaining around 35 to 45 pounds per week, to reach its colossal size.

But up until now, it hasn't been clear whether all dinosaurs shared this growth pattern. Was a T. rex-style period of extreme growth the only way dinos became full-fledged adults?

A study of fossilized bone samples from 11 different dinosaurs has revealed that while some transformed during an adolescent growth spurt, others grew slow and steady.

Like tree trunks, dinosaur bones have rings that show how the creatures grew and aged.

"Most animals have a period every year when they stop growing, traditionally suggested to be in times like winter when food is more scarce. It shows up in the bones as a line, like a tree ring," said Tom Cullen, a scientific affiliate of Chicago's Field Museum and the lead author of a new study in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

"By analyzing these growth lines and examining the bones for new regions of growth, scientists can get a rough estimate of an animal's age and how much it grew every year. There are also clues in the bone structure," he said in a news statement.

The dinosaurs' growth patterns depended on their family, the researchers found. T. rex and its relatives, the coelurosaurs, showed a period of fast growth during adolescence, and then the rate of growth would peter out once they reached adulthood.

However, more distant cousins of the T. rex, the research suggested, could reach a similar size but grew more slowly.

The team sampled bones from a Carcharodontosaurus, a newly identified species from Argentina. It didn't reach its adult size until its 30s and 40s and lived to be up to 50 years old or more. Despite its advanced age, it had only stopped growing two or three years before becoming part of the fossil record.

For the study, Cullen also took a sample from the Field Museum's most famous resident dinosaur, Sue the T. rex. It lived to be about 33 years old and is the world's most complete and best-preserved T. rex.

Cullen used a diamond-tipped coring drill to cut a cylinder of bone around the size of a battery from Sue's thigh bone -- a process he described as "nerve-wracking."

Paleontologist Tom Cullen, a research associate of Chicago's Field Museum, cuts into Sue the T. rex's thigh bone to learn how the massive meat eater grew.

He then sliced samples of bone so thin that light could pass through them. This enabled him to examine the samples under a microscope and analyze the lines showing where new bone had grown year after year. The missing part of Sue's leg was filled in with brown putty.

Mammals, including humans, tend to go through a growth spurt when young and then stay the same size once reaching maturity. In other animal groups, that's not always the case.

"Growth rate really varies, there's no one size fits all," said Cullen, who is now a postdoctoral researcher at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. (The museum announced last week that it's building the new SECU DinoLab to house and study the fossil pair of a Triceratops horridus and a Tyrannosaurus rex, which will go on display in 2022. The "dueling dinosaurs" are some of the most complete dino skeletons ever found, which will contribute to furthering research on dinosaur biology.)

"Birds have super growth spurts and reach adult size really fast, while reptiles like alligators and various lizards and snakes have extended growth. With them, a really, really big individual is probably really old," he added.

Expanding in size quickly can be an advantage, the study said -- it makes it easier for you to hunt other animals, and harder for predators to hunt you.

Conversely, a growth spurt takes a lot of energy and resources, and it's easier to just get a little bigger every year throughout your life span.

"The amount of calories T. rex would have needed during its growth spurt would have been ridiculous," Cullen said.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/

Paleontologists Find First Dinosaur Remains in Ireland

Friday, December 25, 2020

Scelidosaurus harrisonii. Image credit: John Sibbick.

Paleontologists have found the fossilized remains of two Jurassic dinosaur species in Co. Antrim in Northern Ireland. These are the first dinosaur remains reported from anywhere in Ireland and some of the most westerly in Europe.

“This is a hugely significant discovery,” said Dr. Mike Simms, a curator and paleontologist in the Department of Natural Sciences at National Museums Northern Ireland.

“The great rarity of such fossils here is because most of Ireland’s rocks are the wrong age for dinosaurs, either too old or too young, making it nearly impossible to confirm dinosaurs existed on these shores.”

The two fossil bones were found by the late Roger Byrne, a schoolteacher and fossil collector, who donated them along with many other fossils to Ulster Museum.

“The fossils that Roger Byrne found were perhaps swept out to sea, alive or dead, sinking to the Jurassic seabed where they were buried and fossilized,” Dr. Simms said.

Originally it was assumed the fossils were from the same animal, but Dr. Simms and colleagues were surprised to discover that they were from two completely different dinosaurs.

One is part of a femur (upper leg bone) of a four-legged plant-eater called Scelidosaurus.

The other is part of the tibia (lower leg bone) of a two-legged meat-eater similar to Sarcosaurus.

Dr. Simms with the tibia of Sarcosaurus on the left and the femur of Scelidosaurus on the right. Image credit: National Museums Northern Ireland.

“Analyzing the shape and internal structure of the bones, we realized that they belonged to two very different animals,” said Dr. Robert Smyth, a paleontologist in the School of the Environment, Geography and Geological Sciences at the University of Portsmouth.

“One is very dense and robust, typical of an armored plant-eater.”

“The other is slender, with thin bone walls and characteristics found only in fast-moving two-legged predatory dinosaurs called theropods.”

“Despite being fragmentary, these fossils provide valuable insight on a very important period in dinosaur evolution, about 200 million years ago,” he added.

“It’s at this time that dinosaurs really start to dominate the world’s terrestrial ecosystems.”

Scelidosaurus keeps on turning up in marine strata, and I am beginning to think that it may have been a coastal animal, perhaps even eating seaweed like marine iguanas do today,” said Professor David Martill, also from the School of the Environment, Geography and Geological Sciences at the University of Portsmouth.

The findings were published in the Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association.

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Michael J. Simms et al. First dinosaur remains from Ireland. Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, published online November 11, 2020; doi: 10.1016/j.pgeola.2020.06.005

Source: www.sci-news.com/

Paleontologists Discover Identical Evolution of Isolated Organisms

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

A scanning electron microscope image of a dental platform element from the Conodont genus Sweetognathus, collected in Wyoming, USA. This specimen is between 293.7 and 294.9 years old. Credit: David Terrill, Charles Henderson

Paleontologists at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and the University of Calgary in Canada have provided new proof of parallel evolution: conodonts, early vertebrates from the Permian period, adapted to new habitats in almost identical ways despite living in different geographical regions. The researchers were able to prove that this was the case using fossil teeth found in different geographical locations.

One of the most convincing arguments proving the theory of evolution is that it is fairly easy to predict how animals and plants will evolve to adapt to changes in their habitats. There is no shortage of proof that organisms with a common ancestor evolve in the same way even if they are entirely isolated from each other. One of the most prominent examples is the Midas cichlid in Nicaragua. Approximately 6,000 years ago, individual fish colonized various crater lakes. Interestingly, they developed identical morphologies in their new habitats. One group specialized in catching small shrimps and developed a stocky body with a flat mouth. Another group hunts fish in deeper water and is considerably more streamlined. "These subspecies are found in each of the crater lakes, although there is no connection whatsoever between the habitats," says Dr. Emilia Jarochowska from GeoZentrum Nordbayern at FAU. "This is an example of parallel evolution."

Fossils from Russia and Bolivia

Emilia Jarochowska's research focuses on evolution in different ecosystems, but rather than studying animals which are still alive today she concentrates on conodonts, organisms which lived in the sea approximately 500 to 200 million years ago and were one of the first vertebrates. The cone-shaped teeth of the eel-like organisms can still be found as micro fossils in sedimentary rocks across the globe. Scientists estimate that there were roughly 3000 different species of conodonts. "Scientists have suspected for several years now that a certain subspecies known as Conodont Sweetognathus developed several parallel evolutionary adaptations," says Emilia Jarochowska.

The researchers from Erlangen set out with paleontologists from the University of Calgary to prove this theory. The Canadian researchers had collected fossilized Sweetognathus teeth from various locations across the world, including Bolivia and Russia. Emilia Jarochowska explains, "As we now have such a good knowledge of tectonics over the history of the Earth, we can rule out the possibility that organisms from these regions were ever in contact with each other." The fossils measuring a mere two to three millimeters in length were scanned at GeoZentrum Nordbayern in a scanner with a spatial resolution of four micrometers, which delivers even higher definition pictures than a CT in a hospital. Precise 3-D models and mathematical descriptions were made of more than 40 samples.

Parallel evolution confirmed

The painstaking analysis of the morphologies in the dental elements confirmed what scientists have suspected for years: Conodont Sweetognathus adapted repeatedly in response to different food sources after emigrating to new habitats in an almost identical fashion in spite of these habitats being isolated from each other. Comparing samples from a large number of fossils over a number of years has now allowed researchers to confirm without a doubt that the teeth found in Bolivia and Russia come from organisms with a common ancestor. "We were able to prove that two lineages of Sweetognathus in two different parts of the world followed the same developmental pattern," Emilia Jarochowska explains. "That is further proof for the theory of evolution—and for the effectiveness of international collaboration."



More information: W. Petryshen et al, Evidence of parallel evolution in the dental elements of Sweetognathus conodonts, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2020). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1922

Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B 

Provided by University of Erlangen-Nuremberg 

Source: https://phys.org/

Niebla antiqua: New Carnivorous Dinosaur Unearthed in Patagonia

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Niebla by cisiopurple on DeviantArt

A new genus and species of medium-sized abelisaurid dinosaur has been unearthed in northern Patagonia, Argentina.

Scientifically named Niebla antiqua, the new dinosaur species lived approximately 69 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous period.

The ancient predator belongs to Abelisauridae, a family of ceratosaurian theropod dinosaurs known exclusively from the ancient supercontinent Gondwana.

Abelisaurids first appeared during the middle Jurassic period and survived until the end of the Mesozoic Era.

Niebla antiqua is relatively small, much smaller than other abelisaurids such as Carnotaurus and Abelisaurus,” said Mauro Aranciaga Rolando from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) and colleagues.

The fossilized remains of Niebla antiqua were found at the Arriagada Farm near the Matadero Hill, about 70 km south from General Roca city in Río Negro province.

“The type specimen of Niebla antiqua comes from the top of the Allen Formation, Late Cretaceous of the Neuquén Group,” the paleontologists said.

“It is represented by two incomplete dorsal centra, weathered dorsal ribs, a scapulocoracoid and fragmentary skull bones including a nearly complete braincase and the tip of the right dentary.”

Niebla antiqua is a new genus and species of medium-sized abelisaurid from Late Cretaceous beds of Río Negro province, northern Patagonia, Argentina. Image credit: Rolando et al., doi: 10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102915.

The analysis of the fossils revealed that Niebla antiqua had a highly derived braincase and pectoral (shoulder) girdle.

“The holotype specimen of Niebla antiqua represents a somatically mature individual,” the researchers said.

“The count of the lines of arrested growth suggests a minimum age of 9 years increases the histological evidence for these theropods.”

“The presence of a small to middle-medium sized abelisaurid in the Upper Cretaceous shows that there is a higher diversity of derived abelisaurids in Patagonia that previously thought,” they concluded.

The discovery is reported in a paper in the Journal of South American Earth Sciences.

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Mauro Aranciaga Rolando et al. A new medium-sized abelisaurid (Theropoda, Dinosauria) from the late cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Allen Formation of Northern Patagonia, Argentina. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, published online October 14, 2020; doi: 10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102915

Source: www.sci-news.com/

Answers on When and How the First Animals Appeared From 500 Million-Year-Old Microfossils

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Northern Greenland’s Portfjeld Formation, more than half a billion years old, contains embryo-like microfossils. Credit: John Peel

When and how did the first animals appear? Science has long sought an answer. Uppsala University researchers and colleagues in Denmark have now jointly found, in Greenland, embryo-like microfossils up to 570 million years old, revealing that organisms of this type were dispersed throughout the world. The study is published in Communications Biology.

“We believe this discovery of ours improves our scope for understanding the period in Earth’s history when animals first appeared — and is likely to prompt many interesting discussions,” says Sebastian Willman, the study’s first author and a paleontologist at Uppsala University.

The existence of animals on Earth around 540 million years ago (mya) is well substantiated. This was when the event in evolution known as the “Cambrian Explosion” took place. Fossils from a huge number of creatures from the Cambrian period, many of them shelled, exist. The first animals must have evolved earlier still; but there are divergent views in the research community on whether the extant fossils dating back to the Precambrian Era are genuinely classifiable as animals.

A potential animal embryo, approximately 160 μm (micrometres) in diameter, from the Portfjeld Formation in Greenland. Only in the Doushantuo Formation in southern China have similar finds have come to light. Credit: Sebastian Willman

The new finds from the Portfjeld Formation in the north of Greenland may help to enhance understanding of the origin of animals. In rocks that are 570-560 mya, scientists from Uppsala University, the University of Copenhagen and the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland have found microfossils of what might be eggs and animal embryos. These are so well preserved that individual cells, and even intracellular structures, can be studied. The organisms concerned lived in the shallow coastal seas around Greenland during the Ediacaran period, 635-541 mya. The immense variability of microfossils has convinced the researchers that the complexity of life in that period must have been greater than has hitherto been known.

Similar finds were uncovered in southern China’s Doushantuo Formation, which is nearly 600 million years old, over three decades ago. Since then, researchers have been discussing what kinds of life form the microfossils represented, and some think they are eggs and embryos from primeval animals. The Greenland fossils are somewhat younger than, but largely identical to, those from China.

The new discovery means that the researchers can also say that these organisms were spread throughout the world. When they were alive, most continents were spaced out south of the Equator. Greenland lay where the expanse of the Southern Ocean (surrounding Antarctica) is now, and China was roughly at the same latitude as present-day Florida.

“The vast bedrock, essentially unexplored to date, of the north of Greenland offers opportunities to understand the evolution of the first multicellular organisms, which in turn developed into the first animals that, in their turn, led to us,” Sebastian Willman says.

Reference: “Ediacaran Doushantuo-type biota discovered in Laurentia” by Sebastian Willman, John S. Peel, Jon R. Ineson, Niels H. Schovsbo, Elias J. Rugen and Robert Frei, 6 November 2020, Communications Biology.
DOI:10.1038/s42003-020-01381-7

Source: https://scitechdaily.com/

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