Mammals Evolution
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A Desert Full Of Whales: Egypt's Window Into Evolution
What makes Wadi al-Hitan extraordinary is the type of fossils found here. The valley contains the remains of Archaeoceti, an extinct group of early whales that still retained traces of their land-dwelling ancestry.
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New Homo Erectus Fossils Reveal Ancient Migration Across Drowned Sundaland
Two Homo erectus skull fragments recovered from the seafloor near Java have rewritten the species' migration story. Once thought isolated to Java, H. erectus likely roamed the now-submerged plains of Sundaland 140,000 years ago. These ancient humans hunted turtles and large mammals and may have adopted modern hunting techniques, possibly through cu...
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Echidna Species Lived Watery Lifestyles Like Platypuses: Study
As the world's only surviving egg-laying mammals, Australasia's platypus and four echidna species are among the most extraordinary animals on Earth.
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Why Don't Humans Have Hair All Over Their Bodies? A Biologist Explains
Humans aren't the only mammals with sparse hair. Elephants, rhinos and naked mole rats also have very little hair. It's true for some marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins, too.
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Human Outer Ears May Have Evolved from Ancient Fish Gills, Study Finds
Human outer ears may have evolved from the cartilage in ancient fish gills, according to recent research. Gene-editing experiments demonstrated a genetic link between fish gills and mammalian ears, with findings suggesting this transformation dates back millions of years. Researchers tested genetic enhancers in zebrafish, mice, and lizards, uncover...
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Marsupial Mole’s Evolutionary Mystery Solved: Genetic Study Links to Bilbies and Bandicoots
A genetic study has revealed that the marsupial mole, an elusive Australian species, is a true marsupial, more closely related to bilbies and bandicoots than to other moles. This discovery, based on a specimen from the South Australian Museum, challenges previous assumptions about its evolutionary origins. Marsupial moles, known for their backward-...
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New Cartilage Type Found: Lipocartilage Resembles Fat, Boosts Elasticity
Scientists have identified lipocartilage, a newly classified type of cartilage featuring fat-filled, balloon-like cells that offer elasticity and structural stability. Found in the external ears, noses, and throats of mammals, including humans, this tissue differs from traditional cartilage types by maintaining its size regardless of calorie intake...
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Research Shows Twin Births Were Common in Ancient Primate Evolution
Research suggests that ancient primates, including early humans, typically gave birth to twins, a common trait in their evolutionary history. Over time, singletons became more prevalent due to the survival advantages of larger, more developed offspring. This shift is linked to the evolution of primates' larger brains and bodies, requiring more ener...
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Like Humans, These Animals Give Each Other Names
Naming others is considered a marker of highly advanced cognition in social animals, previously observed only in humans, bottlenose dolphins and African elephants. Marmoset monkeys have now joined this exclusive club, according to a new study.
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Extinct Walrus-like Mammal Discovered in Atlantics, Provides New Insights into Marine Evolution
Recent findings have unveiled Ontocetus posti, an extinct walrus-like mammal that lived 2.2 million years ago. Led by Dr. Mathieu Boisville from the University of Tsukuba, this discovery, made from fossils found in Norwich, UK, and Antwerp, Belgium, provides fresh insights into the evolutionary history of walruses. Initially misidentified, the foss...
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A Desert Full Of Whales: Egypt's Window Into Evolution
What makes Wadi al-Hitan extraordinary is the type of fossils found here. The valley contains the remains of Archaeoceti, an extinct group of early whales that still retained traces of their land-dwelling ancestry.
-
New Homo Erectus Fossils Reveal Ancient Migration Across Drowned Sundaland
Two Homo erectus skull fragments recovered from the seafloor near Java have rewritten the species' migration story. Once thought isolated to Java, H. erectus likely roamed the now-submerged plains of Sundaland 140,000 years ago. These ancient humans hunted turtles and large mammals and may have adopted modern hunting techniques, possibly through cu...
-
Echidna Species Lived Watery Lifestyles Like Platypuses: Study
As the world's only surviving egg-laying mammals, Australasia's platypus and four echidna species are among the most extraordinary animals on Earth.
-
Why Don't Humans Have Hair All Over Their Bodies? A Biologist Explains
Humans aren't the only mammals with sparse hair. Elephants, rhinos and naked mole rats also have very little hair. It's true for some marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins, too.
-
Human Outer Ears May Have Evolved from Ancient Fish Gills, Study Finds
Human outer ears may have evolved from the cartilage in ancient fish gills, according to recent research. Gene-editing experiments demonstrated a genetic link between fish gills and mammalian ears, with findings suggesting this transformation dates back millions of years. Researchers tested genetic enhancers in zebrafish, mice, and lizards, uncover...
-
Marsupial Mole’s Evolutionary Mystery Solved: Genetic Study Links to Bilbies and Bandicoots
A genetic study has revealed that the marsupial mole, an elusive Australian species, is a true marsupial, more closely related to bilbies and bandicoots than to other moles. This discovery, based on a specimen from the South Australian Museum, challenges previous assumptions about its evolutionary origins. Marsupial moles, known for their backward-...
-
New Cartilage Type Found: Lipocartilage Resembles Fat, Boosts Elasticity
Scientists have identified lipocartilage, a newly classified type of cartilage featuring fat-filled, balloon-like cells that offer elasticity and structural stability. Found in the external ears, noses, and throats of mammals, including humans, this tissue differs from traditional cartilage types by maintaining its size regardless of calorie intake...
-
Research Shows Twin Births Were Common in Ancient Primate Evolution
Research suggests that ancient primates, including early humans, typically gave birth to twins, a common trait in their evolutionary history. Over time, singletons became more prevalent due to the survival advantages of larger, more developed offspring. This shift is linked to the evolution of primates' larger brains and bodies, requiring more ener...
-
Like Humans, These Animals Give Each Other Names
Naming others is considered a marker of highly advanced cognition in social animals, previously observed only in humans, bottlenose dolphins and African elephants. Marmoset monkeys have now joined this exclusive club, according to a new study.
-
Extinct Walrus-like Mammal Discovered in Atlantics, Provides New Insights into Marine Evolution
Recent findings have unveiled Ontocetus posti, an extinct walrus-like mammal that lived 2.2 million years ago. Led by Dr. Mathieu Boisville from the University of Tsukuba, this discovery, made from fossils found in Norwich, UK, and Antwerp, Belgium, provides fresh insights into the evolutionary history of walruses. Initially misidentified, the foss...
