Dinosaurs

Blogs about dinosaurs

A photo and a drawing of the holotype of Zhengheornis buyu.

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An article published in the journal “Science Advances” reports the identification of a bird that lived approximately 150 million years ago, during the Jurassic period, and shows a step in the evolution from the tail type typical of dinosaurs to that of birds, equipped with a so-called pygostyle. A team of researchers led by Wang Min of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who named it Zhengheornis buyu, studied a fossil discovered in 2024 that has a tail with 15 vertebrae, while early bird relatives had tails with over 30 vertebrae.

The Shri rapax fossil

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An article published in the journal “Historical Biology” reports the identification of a feathered dinosaur species with bird-like features and particularly strong hands. A team of researchers named it Shri rapax after examining a very well-preserved fossil, albeit missing its head. This fossil has a peculiar history, as it was found in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia during an illegal excavation and later smuggled abroad. This makes it more difficult to study a carnivorous species that lived approximately 71 million years ago and is related to the famous Velociraptor, as both are members of the Dromaeosauridae family

Navaornis hestiae skeleton (Photo courtesy Stephanie Abramowicz)

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An article published in the journal “Nature” reports the identification of a species of primitive birds that lived about 80 million years ago, in the Cretaceous period, in today’s Brazil. A team of researchers examined a very well-preserved fossil skeleton and named the species Navaornis hestiae, attributing it to the group of Enantiornithes. A thorough examination was possible by subjecting the skeleton to a CT scan that allowed them to create a 3D reconstruction. The characteristics of the brain of this primitive bird offer new information on the evolution of bird brain.

Forelimb bones of one of the Bustingorrytitan shiva specimens discovered.

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An article published in the journal “Acta Palaeontologica Polonica” reports the identification of a species of titanosaur that lived about 95 million years ago, in the Cretaceous period, in today’s Argentina and was named Bustingorrytitan shiva. María Edith Simón and Leonardo Salgado examined the partial skeletons of four specimens discovered in the village of Villa El Chocón, in the Neuquén province of Patagonia. This area of Argentina was home to various species of titanosaurs, the largest animals to have lived on land.

Skeleton of the Thescelosaurus neglectus nicknamed Willo (Photo J. Spencer)

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An article published in the journal “Scientific Reports” offers new information on the sensory capabilities of the Thescelosaurus neglectus, a small dinosaur that lived just before the great extinction that wiped out non-avian dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period. Paleontologists David Button and Lindsay Zanno submitted a Thescelosaurus skull to a CT scan to reconstruct its interior to create a 3D representation of its brain and inner ear. The conclusion is that this species had some very developed senses, useful for living in burrows.