A species of ancient human that lived two million years ago was forced to evolve and change its physical traits in order to survive climate change. The emergence of Paranthropus robustus happened roughly at the same time as the more primitive hominin species Australopithecus died out. It is believed this period of rapid change in South … Read more
Hoofed creatures like horses and rhinos evolved from a strange sheep-sized animal that looked like a cross between a pig and a dog, researchers claim. Experts from Johns Hopkins University discovered the remains of the strange creature in Indian and say it dates back about 55 million years. Named Cambaytherium, it is the direct ancestor … Read more
Two magpie-sized dinosaurs that lived 160 million years ago evolved the ability to glide but were poor flyers, a new study shows. Despite having bat-like wings, the two foot-long, feathered dinosaurs, called Yi and Ambopteryx, only managed to glide clumsily between the trees, say US researchers. Their poor aerial ability meant they eventually died out … Read more
A tiny flatworm has provided scientists with the first evidence that species may be able to adapt to a rapidly changing climate in a relatively short period of time. Over the past 100 years the flatworm has adapted to survive in different sea water conditions – developing a new tolerance to lower salinities caused by … Read more
Penguins first evolved almost 22 million years ago in Australia and New Zealand and NOT in Antarctica Researchers analysed the genomes of 18 different species of the aquatic birds They found penguins did not colonise the Antarctic until 2–9 million years ago Changes in the ocean current around Antarctica likely triggered this movement Penguins also adapted to … Read more
Rodentia (gnawing mammals) Includes mountain beavers, chipmunks, squirrels, marmots, field mice, lemmings, muskrats, hamsters, gerbils, Old World mice, rats, geomyidae (gophers), and Dipodidae (jerboas). 1,700 species, the largest mammalian order. Chiroptera (bats) There are two suborders of bats, the only mammals that can fly. Suborder Megachiroptera contains one family, the Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old Worm … Read more
Human teeth ‘first evolved 400 million years ago’ in a bizarre armoured fish, according to new X-ray analysis of a fossil. Palaeontologists have used the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the strongest X-ray source in the world, to ‘digitally dissect’ the primitive jawed fish. The teeth, belonging to the extinct ‘acanthothoracid’ fish, were discovered near … Read more
A critically endangered nocturnal parrot that lives in the Australian outback ‘has not evolved to see in the dark’, putting it at risk of crashing into fences, a study found. The elusive Night Parrot’s eyesight is no better than that of its cousins that are active during the day, a scan of the bird’s skull … Read more
First four-legged vertebrates to leave the oceans may have evolved ribs to help them walk on land – which later enabled them to start drawing air into their lungs around 360 million years ago, study shows Researchers had different lizard species walk on a treadmill during a CT scan They looked at savannah monitor lizards … Read more
Men have evolved to grow beards in order to protect their jaws from incoming punches from foes, a study has found. Facial hair is the most evident manifestation of sexual dimorphism — physical differences between males and females — in humans. But its actual purpose has long remained an enigma, with some researchers claiming its purpose … Read more