Portal:Paleontology/DYK

Did you know...

¹

... that in the first scientific study of fossils in English, William Martin speculated that horn coral (pictured) was a kind of bamboo and said another fossil was not a small crocodile tail?
... that the extinct ants Azteca alpha carried larvae of the nematode Formicodiplogaster myrmenema?
... that fossils of the extinct snakefly family Mesoraphidiidae are known mainly from the Northern Hemisphere?
... that snakes
?

... that the last common ancestor of bilaterian animals has been reconstructed as a tiny worm with a combined mouth and anus?

... that the extinct
fossil lepidopteran
discovered to date?

...that despite being known from many specimens, the fossil Fuxianhuia remains one of the most controversial Cambrian arthropods?

... that
paleobotanist Shya Chitaley named an extinct plant species for Cleveland
's bicentennial and also had an extinct plant species named for her?

... that Araneagryllus is named from a combination of the Latin aranea meaning "spider" and gryllus meaning "cricket"?

... that
color patterning
?

²

... that the extinct ant Zigrasimecia tonsora (pictured) is named from the Latin words "tonsor" meaning barber and "oris" meaning mouth?

...that the fossil of Ichthyornis (pictured) discovered by Benjamin Franklin Mudge was the first bird recognized to possess teeth?

... that "color markings", considered rare among fossil crabs, have been found on Avitelmessus?

... that
Oxyura jamaicensis
?
... that Peltandra primaeva was the first fossil record for the genus Peltandra when described in 1977?

... that it is all but impossible to match up species known by leaves with those known by trunks in the prehistoric cycad-like genus Cycadeoidea?
... that the fossil stick insect Eoprephasma was described from two isolated forewings?
... that the practice of insect husbandry by ants is at least 15 million years old?
... that a fossil of the extinct
wind pipe
?
...that a fossil specimen of Pelagosaurus was found with the remains of a Leptolepis in its stomach?

³

... that the extinct sweat bee genus Nesagapostemon is known from a single 9.9-millimetre (0.39 in) female specimen?
... that unlike its closest living relatives,
lorisoids, Djebelemur from Eocene Africa probably lacked a toothcomb
?

... that Krijn is the common name for the first Neanderthal discovered in the Netherlands?
... that seeds of the fossil yew genus Diploporus are larger than Taxus seeds and smaller than Torreya seeds?
... that the fossil bivalve Emiliodonta shared its name with a coccolithophore for about a decade?

... that the discovery of the extinct
Nephila jurassica
extended the fossil record of the genus by 130 million years?
... that the fossil ant genus Yantaromyrmex (pictured) is found in four amber deposits in Europe?
... that members of the extinct bivalve genus Hemiconcavodonta are unique in the subfamily Concavodontinae in that their teeth point in two directions?
... that the shortest fossil
termite bug is Termitaradus avitinquilinus
?

... that extinct maples from the Eocene
Beaver Creek flora in Montana?

4

... that within the
Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Wyoming, but not in Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, or Wisconsin
?

... that Late Oligocene
?
... that lice from mummified guinea pigs and mites preserved in amber while feeding on spiders have provided evidence for researchers in the field of paleoparasitology?

... that in addition to some isolated teeth and a jaw fragment, the Mesozoic mammals of Madagascar include the most complete mammalian skeleton known from the Mesozoic of Gondwana?

... that the extinct Neocorynura electra, found in Dominican amber, is the only known species of Neocorynura "sweat bee" from the Greater Antilles?

... that the
Canadian Pacific rail line near Princeton, British Columbia
?

... that a single spoon-shaped lower jaw belonging to the
crocodyliform Sunosuchus is the most well preserved fossil found from the Phu Kradung Formation in Thailand
?

... that although it was first classified as a
microsaur amphibian
?

5

... that scientific illustrator, took a year-long geological tour as a honeymoon with her husband William Buckland
?

... that the extinct ant Agroecomyrmex duisburgi (head pictured) was first described in 1868?

... that the entire Arostropsis weevil genus is known from only one specimen, which is 45 million years old?

... that over the course of the history of stegosaur research, their iconic back plates have been thought to function as armor plating, to regulate body temperature, or to attract mates?

... that Mesotherium ("middle beast") (skull pictured) was so named because its discoverer believed it was an intermediate between rodents and pachyderms?

...that Maui
?

... that Jaggermeryx naida was named in honor of Mick Jagger due to its large, sensitive lips?

... that faunal stage of central Europe
?

... that Bambolinetta was probably the only duck species to propel itself underwater with its wings, like a penguin?

...that the prehistoric marine reptile Excalibosaurus (pictured) was named after King Arthur's sword because of the sword-like appearance of its upper jaw?

⁶

... that the extinct ant Anochetus lucidus is named for its shiny exoskeleton?

... that the recently described extinct penguin Inkayacu from the Eocene of Peru is postulated to have had gray and reddish brown feathers, unlike the black and white feathers of living penguins?

... that Ocepeia (pictured), a 60-million-year-old afrotherian mammal, is named after a Moroccan mining company?

...that although related to modern
sharks
?

... that seeds of the extinct tree Eucommia montana are found from British Columbia to Colorado?

... that paleontologists have
dinosaur eggs (pictured) being preserved with pathological
shell deformities?

... that Electrinocellia peculiaris is named for the Latin "electrum" meaning amber, "Inocellia", the type genus for Inocelliidae, and "peculiaris" for the enigmatic nature of the species?

... that Adolf Carl Noé challenged disbelief in the possibility of North American coal balls (example pictured) by presenting a wheelbarrow full of them?

... that the
Musk Duck
?

... that the Cretaceous Malagasy mammal Lavanify is most closely related to a species from India?

⁷

... that hard-shelled animals
?

... that the fossil bee Anthophorula persephone is named for a Greek goddess?

...that the discovery of
Icadyptes salasi, a prehistoric five-foot-tall penguin in Peru
, has caused scientists to reconsider the timeline of penguin evolution?

... that the Cretaceous snakefly Necroraphidia arcuata takes its name, in part, from the Latin word for "bent" and the Greek word for "dead"?

... that the fossil maple Acer taurocursum is named for its type locality, the "Bull Run flora"?

... that the extinct ant Aphaenogaster sommerfeldti was first described in 1868?

... that the late Miocene whale Joumocetus shimizui is the third oldest Cetotheriid known?

... that paleontologist Gerta Keller theorizes that dinosaurs did not become extinct until 300,000 years after the Chicxulub meteor, though she agrees that "I'm sure the day after, they had a headache"?

... that a petroleum geologist named William Warren Orcutt began collecting fossils from the La Brea Tar Pits in 1901, bringing the site to the attention of the scientific community?

... that the extinct maple Acer ivanofense is known from four Alaskan fossils?

⁸

... that one species of the extinct Eocene bulldog ant Ypresiomyrma reached up to 25 millimetres (0.98 in) in length?

... that the discovery of the fossil of Shenshou, a squirrel-like early mammal from the Tiaojishan Formation, pushed the origin of mammals back to the Late Triassic, 220 million to 200 million years ago?

... that graptolites in the northern greywacke zone of the Alps
, with her former fellow student, Ida Peltzmann, who named two species for her?

... that the extinct sumac Rhus rooseae was described from fossils over 35 million years old?

... that the clawless lobster Tricarina is known from a single fossil, obtained from an oil well 3,852 m (12,638 ft) below ground in western Iran?

... that the
transitional form between turtles
and their prehistoric ancestors?

... that the extinct
conifers
found in the Ningming Formation?

...that
index fossils
?

... that the discovery of Babakotia radofilai, an extinct species of sloth lemur, helped to resolve the relationship between the indriids, sloth lemurs, and monkey lemurs?

... that researchers have identified the pictured life form which no longer lives on this planet?

⁹

... that multiple Leptocleidus skeletons have been found preserved as gemstone quality opal over the course of the history of plesiosaur research?

... that the ant Aphaenogaster avita was described from a fossil found in 1969?

... that the
early Eocene maple species Acer douglasense
is the second-oldest maple known from Alaska?

... that the
trapdoor spiders Baltocteniza and Electrocteniza were both identified from specimens in Baltic amber
?

... that the Qaisracetus, a genus of extinct early whales, was named after a tribe in Pakistan?

... that the
marine Hoko River Formation is noted for producing crab, gastropod, cephalopod, and wood fossils
?

... that the extinct ant Acanthognathus poinari had jaws like its modern relatives?

... that the extinct Gigantoproductus giganteus was the largest known species of brachiopod?

... that the extinct ant Attopsis was fossilized in what may have been a lagoon?

... that the lagerstätten
?

¹⁰

...that the prehistoric mammal Yanoconodon (pictured) was a Eutriconodont, a group of early, ancestral mammals that in some cases, grew so big they were able to eat small dinosaurs?

... that the
bivalve Villicumia
has overlapping teeth seen in few other bivalves?

... that the
phylogenetic studies of the ant
family?

... that the type specimen of the extinct bulldog ant Macabeemyrma ovata is the fossilized remains of an adult queen preserved in shale?

... that Rugosodon eurasiaticus is the oldest known species of multituberculata, the most successful lineage of mammals in history?

... that dental similarities in Afrotarsius, an African fossil primate, and Afrasia, a newly described fossil primate from Myanmar, add support to the hypothesis that simians first evolved in Asia?

... that the Mojokerto child was so unexpectedly old that it was discussed in a Time Magazine cover story?

... that Archaeoindris (pictured), a recently extinct giant lemur from Madagascar, was the largest known lemur, comparable in size to a male gorilla?

... that four-eyed harvestmen known as Tetrophthalmi once roamed the Earth?

... that the fossil ant Apterostigma eowilsoni had good stereoscopic vision but poor side vision?

¹¹

A life restoration of Palaeochiropteryx

... that the many examples of
Messel lake may have drowned after being rendered unconscious in flight by poisonous volcanic gases
?

... that fossils of the temnospondyl amphibian Kourerpeton were notoriously discovered in the window of a barber's shop in Arizona?

... that the extinct
Agulla protomaculata is the only snakefly described from the Green River Formation
?

... that the extinct
Florissant Formation in Colorado
?

... that
ammonite
" or the "candy cane", due to its shape?

A fossil life restoration of

... that members of the extinct
mother of pearl
?

... that the
arum family plants Petrocardium and Montrichardia aquatica are known only from the Paleocene Cerrejón Formation rainforest in Colombia
?

... that the
microsaur Rhynchonkos (pictured) shares many similarities with Eocaecilia, and may be an ancestor of caecilians
?

...that Fossil Cycad National Monument, established in South Dakota in 1922, was withdrawn as a national monument in 1956 because all of the visible fossils had been stolen?

... that before modern paleontology came about, fossils of Encrinus went by a number of names in Germany, including "sun wheels", "Saint Boniface's pennies", and "witches' money"?

¹²

An Amarantoraphidia preserved in amber

... that the extinct snakefly Amarantoraphidia ventolina is named for air beings of the Cantabrian mythologies?

... that the extinct
Jamaican Flightless Ibis developed unique club-like wings that could be used as a flail
?

... that over 200 fossils of Aphaenogaster mayri were known when the species was described in 1930?

... that the
extinct Argentinian bivalve Cuyopsis symmetricus
was named for the symmetry of its rectangular shells?

... that Andiva (fossil pictured), an enigmatic animal that lived 555 millions of years ago, perhaps had a convex carapace?

A fossil of Ornatifilum

...that Ornatifilum is likely to be the oldest known fossil fungus?

... that Carnufex is an extinct relative of crocodiles that lived 231 million years ago in North Carolina?

...that Megazostrodon (pictured) is widely accepted as being one of the first mammals to have appeared on Earth?

...that Lantian Man, who was discovered in China in 1963, preceded Peking Man by several hundred thousand years?

... that the type specimen of Scolosaurus seriously injured its discoverer, who was excavating it when it fell on him?

¹³

Two Prionosuchus specimens and a human to scale

...that the
extinct crocodile-like Prionosuchus is the largest amphibian
known to have existed?

...that the Choristodera are extinct reptiles that lived during the time of the dinosaurs and have a skull structure similar to that of the modern day Gharial?

... that the extinct plant species Eucommia jeffersonensis and Eucommia rolandii were both described from fossils in 1997?

... that the extinct snakefly Alavaraphidia is known from a single female trapped in amber (pictured)?

... that the extinct maple section Torada is only known from the three Eocene species A. stonebergae, A. toradense, and A. washingtonense?

A life restoration of Waptia fieldensis

... that the shrimp-like 510-million-year-old arthropod Waptia (artist's restoration pictured) was named after two mountains?

... that the early dinosaur-like animal Lagerpeton was only 70 cm (28 in) long?

... that the extinct
Ovoo gurvel
has "mystery bones" in its skull?

... that the extinct
termite bug Termitaradus dominicanus
is divided into fourteen brown lobes?

... that the
extinct arachnid Attercopus was once considered as the world's oldest spider
?

14

A Prostylotermes kamboja preserved in amber

... that the extinct termite Prostylotermes is known from a female, male, and two eggs?

... that genera of agaric mushrooms
known from the fossil record?

... that the extinct, Miocene age, maple Acer browni ranged from southern Oregon to the north shore of the Haida Gwaii?

... that the
extinct sweat bee Augochlora leptoloba is known from a single specimen now in a private collection in Turin
, Italy?

... that fungi from Vancouver Island, British Columbia
?

A fossilized Fothergilla malloryi leaf

... that the extinct witchalder Fothergilla malloryi (pictured) is the oldest confirmed member of the genus Fothergilla?

... that the flat-headed crocodilian relative Aegisuchus had a circular projection on top of its skull that may have served as an eyespot in mating displays?

... that the
early Oligocene maple, Acer ashwilli
, is known from only eight places in Oregon?

... that the extinct
parasitic wasp Brevivulva electroma
(pictured) was named from the Greek words meaning "short amber wrapper"?

... that the distinct fauna of the Pentaceratops sternbergii
?

15

Fossil Leurospondylus vertebrae.

... that Leurospondylus ultimus was so named as it was originally thought to be the last occurrence of a plesiosaur?

... that the leaves of two species of the fossil plant genus Banksieaeformis resemble those of the living Banksia serrata?

... that the extinct Actinidia oregonensis was the first kiwi relative described from North America?

... that the extinct rove beetle genus Ektatotricha is known from 15 beetles trapped in Cretaceous amber from Myanmar?

... that UA 8699, a broken molar from the Cretaceous of Madagascar, may be the only Mesozoic marsupial from the southern continents?

A Deinodryinus velteni preserved in amber

... that the wasp Deinodryinus velteni (pictured) is one of only three Deinodryinus species described from the fossil record?

... that the extinct snakefly genera Lebanoraphidia and Iberoraphidia are both named for the regions they were found in?

... that
paleontologist Scott D. Sampson hosted the four episode nature documentary series Dinosaur Planet for the Discovery Channel
in 2003?

...that the
type specimen of Dromicosuchus had damage to its jaw and neck that may have been inflicted by the teeth of the large carnivore
it was found underneath?

... that unlike living
ram feeding
?

16

A life restoration of the troodontid Byronosaurus

... that highlights from the brainiest dinosaurs
?

... that a fossil of the
theriodonts
, the ancestors of mammals?

...that Archaeopotamus is the oldest well-identified genus of hippos, having lived 7.5 million to 1.8 million years ago?

...that the enigmatic Ediacaran biota (fossil pictured) have been classified into every major group of lifeforms, including their own kingdom?

... that the extinct lacewing Ainigmapsychops takes part of its name from the Greek word for enigma?

Fossils of Java Man

... that to support his claim that Java Man was the "missing link", discoverer Eugène Dubois argued that it looked like a "giant gibbon"?

... that the extinct
permineralized conifer cone
in chert?

... that the fossil mantidfly Dicromantispa moronei was first described from a single specimen in a private collection?

... that unlike other
crocodilians found in Zamora, Spain, the extinct genus Duerosuchus
was primarily a fish eater?

... that mustelid, resembled a modern wolverine
but with three times the body mass?

17

A map showing the location of the Burgsvik beds

...that the formation exposed on Gotland, Sweden, contain the only fossil euglenid
ever discovered?

...that the
extinct species of Edaphodon, a type of rabbitfish related to the shark, grazed along the bottom of the ocean like land-dwelling herbivores
do now?

... that the Paleocene Alaskan maple Acer alaskense was described from a fossil leaf that may be atypical for the species?

... that termite bug
found in amber?

... that ensign wasp
described from Mexican amber?

Medullosales fossil

... that the largest known
extinct seed ferns
?

... that the Late Cretaceous crocodile relative Simosuchus (restoration pictured) ate plants and had a pug-nosed snout?

...that though no fossil grasses have been discovered, the earliest-known
teeth
?

... that the extinct hangingfly genera Formosibittacus, Jurahylobittacus, and Mongolbittacus are only known from the Middle Jurassic of China?

... that the extinct legume Hymenaea allendis is the second Hymenaea species described from Mexican amber?

¹⁸

A fossil of Gesomyrmex pulcher

... that unlike living species of the genus, the extinct ant Gesomyrmex pulcher is from Germany rather than Asia?

... that the earliest known account of
Lebanese fossils is attributed to Herodotus
?

... that the Pacific Island
region"?
... that Tzaganosuchus fossils were first discovered during a joint paleontological expedition by the Soviet Union and Mongolia?

... that the extinct earwig Toxolabis was preserved with two earwig nymphs?

A life restoration of Kaganaias

...that the
scaled reptile to be found in Asia
?

... that the extinct maple Acer dettermani is only known from the flank of a volcano?

... that the only known
extinct spider Palaeoperenethis is in the Royal Ontario Museum
?

... that the first four specimens of the fossil earwig Zigrasolabis are all preserved in the same piece of amber?

... that a small fetus is preserved in the holotype fossil of the extinct stingray Asterotrygon?

¹⁹

A life restoration of stag-moose with a human to scale

...that the mass extinction of large North American mammals toward the end of the most recent ice age
?

... that the only known specimen of the extinct planthopper Glisachaemus jonasdamzeni is preserved with a parasitic mite?

... that the plesiosaur Bathyspondylus was first described in 1982 from a specimen collected in 1774?

... that the dinosaur Wendiceratops (pictured) was named for fossil hunter Wendy Sloboda, who then had it tattooed on her arm in celebration?

... that the extinct
petrified
stump?

Franz Hilgendorf

... that the
crustacean Vargula hilgendorfii, named after Franz Hilgendorf, was used as a light source by Japanese soldiers in World War II
?

... that unusual
eye sockets
?

... that Stephen Jay Gould once called Donald Prothero "the best punctuated equilibrium researcher on the West Coast"?

... that the only known specimen of the early crocodile relative Stegomosuchus was kept in the discoverer's yard for several years before being given over for study?

...that the discovery of the dinosauromorph Dromomeron, from the Late Triassic of New Mexico, indicates that dinosaurs did not rapidly replace their close relatives?

²⁰

An Anochetus dubius preserved in amber

... that the first described fossil of Anochetus dubius is surrounded by a brownish bacterial growth?

... that amber fossils of ants carrying the extinct mealybug genus Electromyrmococcus represent the oldest record of symbiosis between mealybugs and Acropyga ants?

... that true eagle from Australia
?

... that the extinct hazel species Corylus johnsonii (fruit pictured) resembles three modern hazels found in China?

... that the recently discovered hummingbirds and swifts
?

A life restoration of Araripesuchus patagonicus

... that the Cretaceous terrestrial crocodilian Araripesuchus is known from five distinct species, two from Africa and the other three from South America?

... that evolutionary history of lemurs
?

... that the extinct moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella
?

... that the extinct amphibian Cryobatrachus (restoration pictured) was discovered in the Transantarctic Mountains of Antarctica?

... that
Neotropical rainforests
?

21

A Lutzomyia adiketis preserved in amber

... that the extinct sandfly species Lutzomyia adiketis is host to the Paleoleishmania species P. neotropicum?

... that Xylolaemus sakhnovi was the first of its genus described from the fossil record?

... that the type specimen of the extinct
tortoise beetle Denaeaspis
is only 6.04 millimetres (0.238 in) long?

... that the
Graeophonus carbonarius
was originally identified as a species of dragonfly?

... that
paleoecologist Heinz Lowenstam discovered that living organisms can produce magnetite
within their bodies?

An Arenysuchus skull

... that the extinct crocodilian crocodyloids
?

... that Emperor Penguins
?

... that highlights from the history of ceratopsian research include the discovery of the iconic Triceratops (skeletal mount pictured), spike-frilled Styracosaurus, and vast bonebeds preserving thousands of Centrosaurus?

... that Frederic Brewster Loomis uncovered vertebrate fossils that were still exhibited at Amherst College's Beneski Museum of Natural History almost a century later?

... that the fossil yew Taxus masonii was described from fifteen fossils collected from 1942 to 1989?

²²

David Tab Rasmussen

... that
Neotropics because it allowed him to study both primates and birds
, his two favorite subjects?

...that naturalist Remington Kellogg used his time serving in France during World War I to collect specimens for universities in the United States?

... that the extinct buthid scorpion Uintascorpio was first placed in the family Vaejovidae?

...that hippos
are related?

... that the fossil maple species Acer kenaicum was suggested to be an ancestor of silver maples?

Illustrated wings of Archiinocellia oligoneura

...that Archiinocellia is noted to be the only snakefly fossil genus from British Columbia and one of only two from Canada?

... that the extinct wasps Dryinus grimaldii and Dryinus rasnitsyni are distinguishable by the modified claws on their front legs?

... that the fossil record (cat illustration pictured) of approximately 25 to 17 million years ago in which there were few cats or cat-like species
?

... that the
horsetail Equisetum thermale grew in Jurassic
hot springs?

... that
Lepidotus was a genus of prehistoric fish that existed from the Late Triassic (Rhaetic) to the middle Cretaceous (Cenomanian
)?

23

An Anochetus corayi preserved in amber

... that the extinct ant Anochetus corayi was the first Anochetus species described from a fossil?

... that the
Ferry County, Washington
, is considered the oldest confirmed record for the fir genus?

... that the stems in the pseudo-trunk of the extinct fern Tempskya decayed as the plant matured, leaving a layer of adventitious roots behind?

... that this month celebrates the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the main Burgess Shale locality?

... that the extinct
lacewing Undulopsychopsis (fossil pictured) is the only psychopsid
to have wavy wings?

A skeletal mount of Ceratosaurus

... that major discoveries in the history of ceratosaur research include horned predators like Ceratosaurus (pictured), Majungasaurus, and Carnotaurus, as well as a bonebed of the projecting-toothed Masiakasaurus?

... that Yongjiacaris represents the second report of freshwater caridean shrimp from the Mesozoic era?

... that the extinct rose family member Neviusia dunthornei is one of only three known Neviusia species?

...that William King Gregory, a leading authority on vertebrate evolution and the preeminent expert on human dentition, was initially taken in by the Piltdown Man, a hoax which was purported to be an early human?

... that as recently as 500 years ago, the island of Madagascar was inhabited by giant lemurs, referred to as subfossil lemurs, that weighed between 10 and 200 kg (22 and 441 lb)?

²⁴

A Haidomyrmodes mammuthus preserved in amber

... that the Cretaceous ant Haidomyrmodes mammuthus is named for the similarity between its mandible shape and mammoth tusks?

... that the fossil scorpion fly Holcorpa was described in 1878 but the family Holcorpidae not until 1989?

... that the possibly
wall crab spider species Garcorops jadis was named for C.S. Lewis' Jadis, the White Witch
?

... that the oldest known member of the mayfly family Neoephemeridae is the Eocene species Neoephemera antiqua?

... that Entropezites, Mycetophagites, and Palaeoagaracites present the oldest evidence of fungal parasitism and hyperparasitism by other fungi in the fossil record?

Fossilized skull of Callawayasaurus colombiensis

... that although the first Callawayasaurus fossil was discovered in 1962, it was not until 1999 that they were recognized as a separate genus?

... that Nanoraphidia electroburmica, known from a fossil in amber, is the smallest known snakefly species, living or extinct?

... that it may not be possible to determine what ?Oryzomys pliocaenicus is?

... that the
extinct water-fern Azolla primaeva
?

... that the name Ginkgo dissecta was first coined in 1974 but not formalized until 2002?

²⁵

Fossilized antlers of Cervalces latifrons

... that the broad-fronted moose was probably the largest species of deer that has ever existed?

... that the
Clarno Formation
even though the species was named after it?

... that the
extinct Pliocene pine Pinus matthewsii
is thought to have been a colonizing tree?

... that tribosphenic molars
?
... that the Late Triassic archosauromorph Uatchitodon is the earliest known venomous reptile?

An Anochetus ambiguus preserved in amber

... that the extinct ant Anochetus ambiguus has a spiny petiole?

... that French paleontologist Charles Lamberton scathingly rebutted a theory claiming that some extinct, giant lemurs were aquatic and that one of them was an "arboreal-aquatic acrobat"?

... that crocodyliforms made up an endemic Central Asian Mesozoic fauna that existed after the breakup of Pangaea
?

... that a new dinosaur (pictured) discovered in North and South Dakota has been nicknamed the "chicken from hell
"?

... that Manot 1, a skull discovered in the Manot Cave in Israel, provides evidence that modern humans lived side-by-side with Neanderthals?

²⁶

An Astreptolabis ethirosomatia preserved in amber

... that the fossil genus Astreptolabis (pictured) is one of four described Burmese amber earwigs?

... that sauropod dinosaur from Xinjiang
in China?

... that a
extinct sea scorpion Eurypterus (restoration pictured) was once thought to be a catfish
?

... that the extinct brown lacewing Cretomerobius is known from both the Cretaceous and Eocene?

... that the 45,000-year-old remains of genome to be fully sequenced
to date?

Fossils and interpretive skeletal reconstruction of File:Tinirau clackae.png

... that the
Tinirau clackae, transitional between fish and land vertebrates, was named after the half-human half-fish character Tinirau in Polynesian
legend?

... that the extinct wasp Deinodryinus areolatus is one of two Deinodryinus species known from Baltic amber?

... that the pterosaur genus Carniadactylus was originally classified under the species name Eudimorphodon rosenfeldi?

... that Leptofoenus pittfieldae is the only species of Leptofoenus documented from the West Indies and the only member of Leptofoenus in the fossil record?

... that the
index fossil to help identify the age of rocks
?

27

Exterior of the Museum für Naturkunde

...that the Natural History Museum of Berlin is home to the largest mounted dinosaur in the world, a Brachiosaurus (or Giraffatitan); and the most exquisitely preserved specimen of the earliest known bird, the Archaeopteryx?

... that
final scientific book discussed the formation of mould through the action of earthworms
?

... that during the
MN 4 zone, the saber-toothed cat Prosansanosmilus
first appeared in Europe?

... that fungi from Vancouver Island, British Columbia
?

... that snakeflies known from China, dating from the Middle Jurassic
?

Fossilized Malagasy hippopotamus with a modern hippopotamus skull for scale

...that although no fossils of the extinct
Malagasy Hippopotamus have been dated within the last 1,000 years, villagers in Madagascar
described a similar creature still alive as recently as 1976?

... that one species of the extinct bivalve Similodonta was found in 108.90 metres (357.3 ft) down a Welsh borehole?

... that the
theropod
dinosaurs?

... that the extinct fly Schwenckfeldina archoica has spines on its genitalia?

... that 57 million-year-old Altiatlasius from Morocco may be the oldest fossil primate yet found, despite a molecular estimate that places the last common ancestor of primates at 90 million years ago?

²⁸

Skull fossils and reconstruction of Lythronax argestes

... that the king of gore (skull pictured) and the monstrous murderer lived in Utah 80 and 75 million years ago respectively?

... that species of the
bivalve Tuarangia lived near the continents of Baltica and East Gondwana
?

... that a fossil of Concavodonta described in 1843 has been lost?

... that the
extinct paddlefish Paleopsephurus was first described from the Cretaceous Hell Creek Formation
?

... that the Triassic archosaur Poposaurus walked on two legs like some dinosaurs, but was more closely related to crocodiles?

An illustration of a fossil assemblage of several Decuriasuchus

... that group behavior
?

... that out of about 20,000
dogwood Cornus clarnensis
?

... that Scottish naturalist fossil fish
?
... that the extinct ant Anochetus exstinctus was described from only two of the three fossils known to the species author?

... that the extinct Cuban condor Gymnogyps varonai may have fed on ground sloths?

²⁹

A life restoration of the thelodont Furcacauda heintzae

...that fossil Thelodont fish (depiction pictured) surprised scientists by showing that stomachs evolved before jaws?

... that the identification of azibiids, a type of fossil primate including Azibius, as either strepsirrhine or haplorine weighs heavily on the African or Asian origins of primates?

... that a fossil plesiosaur skull named Kimmerosaurus may be the missing head of a Colymbosaurus?

... that fossils of the extinct reptile Acallosuchus were found in a cigar box in 1983?

... that fossils of the extinct hazelnut relative Coryloides were informally identified as palm nuts first?

A living Douglas maple

... that the Miocene
Douglas Maple
(fruits pictured)?

...that the discovery of Lazarussuchus showed that choristoderes, a type of aquatic reptile, had not gone extinct in the Eocene, but persisted for millions of years after?

... that the
snakes Pachyrhachis and Haasiophis
?

...that the discovery of
Archaeamphora longicervia, the first known carnivorous plant, suggests that flowering plants
should have originated much earlier than previously thought?

... that the remains of the armoured dinosaur Europelta were uncovered in a coal mine in Spain in 2011?

³⁰

Diagram of benthic biotic changes during the Cambrian substrate revolution

... that a revolution in burrowing marks the base of the Cambrian period, and is followed by the Cambrian explosion of animal diversity?

... that the
extinct Chamaecyparis eureka is the oldest confirmed member of the genus Chamaecyparis
?

... that when first described, the
extinct bird Cruschedula was thought to be a "dry-land" penguin
?

... that Puppigerus, an extinct sea turtle, had a specialized jaw structure which kept it from accidentally inhaling water?

...that mythology
?

An illustration of the shell of Fordilla

... that both bivalve family Fordillidae, are part of the Turkish small shelly fauna
?

... that, being a descendant of Pliohippus, Astrohippus is not considered to be an ancestor to modern horses?

... that the
ichnogenus Chondrites (pictured) can be used as an indicator of anoxia
in sediments?

... that the extinct plant species Eucommia jeffersonensis and Eucommia rolandii were both described from fossils in 1997?

... that, when described, the brown lacewing species Wesmaelius mathewesi was the most ancient member of its subfamily?

³¹

A fossil of Deinodryinus aptianus

... that the extinct wasp Deinodryinus? aptianus has antennae similar to only two other Deinodryinus species?

... that the extinct Miocene age maple Acer smileyi has been classified as closely related to the living Acer nipponicum (pictured)?

... that temnospondyl amphibians, was established as a clade
in 2013?

... that the diminutive pterosaur Arcticodactylus from Greenland had a wingspan of only 24 centimetres (9.4 in)?

... that the extinct
vine maple
?

A life restoration of Gerobatrachus

... that Gerobatrachus is considered to be a missing link that supports the hypothesis offered by cladistics, that frogs and salamanders had a common ancestor?

...that Sacisaurus was named for a one-legged Brazilian elf, as the first skeleton was found missing a leg?

... that the fossil pelican Pelecanus schreiberi from North Carolina was possibly the largest species of pelican ever?

... that among fossils found at gnetophytes
?

... that the fossil ant Azteca eumeces is one of two Azteca species found in Dominican amber?

³²

Illustration of the skull of Glanosuchus

... that the Permian therocephalian Glanosuchus, an early relative of mammals, may have been warm-blooded?

... that at least one species of the extinct termites Parastylotermes (fossil pictured) was found in the Calico Mountains?

... that allosauroid
yet discovered?

... that the extinct trilobite Bumastus (artist's rendition pictured) was named after its resemblance to large grapes?

... that the sloth lemurs of the genus Mesopropithecus were once thought to be indriids due to the similarities between their skulls and those of living sifakas?

A life restoration of Ginkgo cranei

... that the Paleocene Ginkgo cranei is the first fossil Ginkgo to be described from Tertiary "seeds"?

... that the extinct plant genus flowering plant
family at this time?

... that Jurellana tithonia, dating from the Jurassic, is the earliest known porcelain crab?

...that
Polar dinosaurs could have walked to Australia, because during the early Cretaceous the continent of Australia was still linked to Antarctica
?

... that it has been suggested the
extinct palm genus Palaeoraphe was restricted to the Greater Antilles
?

33

A skeletal mount of Titanoceratops

... that Titanoceratops was known from an almost complete skeleton that was assigned to Pentaceratops, and that the two were only distantly related?

...that ft) long and had an armored
neck?

... that the moth lacewing Elektrithone is the first member of its family found in Baltic amber?

... that the fossil ant Aphaenogaster donisthorpei was once part of the Samuel Hubbard Scudder insect collection?

... that although the giant fossa, formerly one of the top carnivores of Madagascar, is thought to be extinct, there is some anecdotal evidence of very large living fossas?

An Aphaenogaster amphioceanica preserved in amber

... that the ant Aphaenogaster amphioceanica (pictured) is in the same amber fossil as six Pseudarmadillo cristatus woodlice?

... that Paleodictyon nodosum made use of a new source of energy not dependent on the Sun?

... that Australornis is the first early Paleocene bird fossil discovered from New Zealand that is not a penguin?

... that ants of the extinct genus Haidomyrmex could possibly open their mandibles to almost twice their head size?

... that with a 150-millimetre (5.9 in) wingspan, Griffenfly
family Meganeuridae, known for species with spans over 700 millimetres (28 in)?

³⁴

A skeletal mount of Shantungtosaurus giganteus

... that highlights from the history of hadrosaur research include the first dinosaur fossils to be mounted in a museum, the colossal Shantungosaurus, and Maiasaura nesting grounds in Montana?

... that the family placement for the fossil moth genus entomologist Norman Tindale
was looking at pictures of modern moths from Australia?

... that the extinct Lotus Nelumbo aureavallis is known from Eocene rocks in western North Dakota?

... that, in one study on the aetosaur Redondasuchus, the orientation of a diagram in the paper may have contributed to the misidentification of its holotype as a left scute rather than a right?

... that Augustasaurus' name comes from the mountain range of northwestern Nevada, where its fossilized bones were first discovered?

A Neanaperiallus masneri preserved in amber

... that only one side of the extinct parasitic wasp Neanaperiallus is visible in its sole fossilized specimen?

... that the fossil relative of the
House Sparrow Passer predomesticus is known only from two upper jaw bones
?

... that of the three described species in the Eocene bulldog ant genus Avitomyrmex, one species is known only from worker caste individuals?

... that the extinct Crocodylus thorbjarnarsoni from the Pliocene and Pleistocene of Kenya was the largest true crocodile and may have eaten early human ancestors?

... that historical therizinosaur research misinterpreted these unusual bird-like herbivorous dinosaurs as giant turtles, semiaquatic fish-eaters, and tree-climbing insectivores?

³⁵

Fossilized Scaphohippus sumani teeth

... that the fossil horse Scaphohippus became extinct when tectonic barriers between the Great Plains and Great Basin of North America disappeared about 13 million years ago?

... that the extinct Phlebotominae sandfly Pintomyia falcaorum is known only from Miocene age Dominican amber found on Hispaniola?

... that oviraptorosaurs were thought to be egg-eaters after the discovery of Oviraptor on a nest of presumed Protoceratops eggs, until the nest was recognized as belonging to Oviraptor itself?

... that the Paleozoic monoplacophoran Pilina unguis was twice as large as any known living monoplacophoran?

... that coal balls are not made of coal?

A life restoration of Aquilops

... that Aquilops ("eagle face") is the most ancient definite neoceratopsian discovered in North America?

... that the recently described
archosauriform in South America
?

... that
Yelovichnus
were initially believed to be the feeding trails of other organisms?

... that, together with Platychelys, suborders
?
... that the extinct ant Anochetus brevidentatus was the second Anochetus species described from Dominican amber?

³⁶

A skeletal mount of Diadectes phaseolinus

... that extinct diadectid reptiliomorphs (life restoration pictured) were the first large herbivorous land animals?

... that unlike its modern-day relative the
extinct crocodilian Aktiogavialis
lived in saltwater?

...that in 1902, 23-year-old
archaeozoologist Dorothea Bate discovered a new species of dwarf elephant in a cave on the island of Cyprus
?

... that the only close modern relative to the fossil ant Eulithomyrmex is Tatuidris?

... that the powerful
Hominoids from Africa into Eurasia
, 17 million years ago?

An Aspidopleura baltica preserved in amber

... that the extinct parasitic wasp genus Aspidopleura is known from only two fossils found in Baltic amber?

... that the extinct mantidfly Feroseta prisca has bristle-covered pterostigma?

...that self-taught scientist and Siberian explorer, thrice decorated with the gold medal by the Russian Geographical Society
?

... that seeds of the
extinct Paleocene pine Pinus peregrinus are most similar to those of the modern red pine and tropical pine
?

... that the
fossils found at the "Ho ho" locality in Yakima County, Washington
?

37

A Zophotermes ashoki preserved in amber

... that the extinct termite Zophotermes ashoki is named after a "sage of Indian paleontology"?

... that the extinct North American Oligocene-age vulture Phasmagyps may be the oldest New World vulture?

... that leaves of the fossil
redvein maple
?

... that the extinct
Taíno people and Hispaniola
?

... that the
bivalve subfamily Praenuculinae
can be told apart from its sister subfamily by looking at teeth?

A life restoration of Kulindroplax

... that Kulindroplax is the first known mollusk showing an unambiguous combination of exterior shells and a worm-like body?

... that the name for the extinct birch family genus Kardiasperma is from the Greek words for "heart" and "seed"?

... that the fossil ant genus Archiponera is known from a single pair of fossils described in 1930?

... that lorisoids
?

... that at the time of description, the extinct basswood macrofossil
occurrence?

38

A fossilized forewing of Hydriomena? protrita

... that the
fossil record
?

... that the moth lacewing genus Principiala is known for three, possibly four, fossils?

... that the discovery of 189
molluscs, annelids and brachiopods
?

... that the
extinct water-fern Azolla primaeva
?

... that fossils of extinct giant cicadas (pictured) were once misidentified as the oldest known butterflies?

A sculpted restoration of Cyclotosaurus

... that the large prehistoric amphibian Cyclotosaurus had a skull up to 70 cm long?

... that the extinct Canadian redwood Metasequoia foxii was described from over 10,000 fossils?

... that siltstone deposits have allowed three-dimensional fossils of the extinct mushroom crinoid to be excavated from Indiana?

... that highlights from the taxa from China like Yutyrannus
?

... that the extinct Eocene maple Acer republicense is known from only one fossil seed?

³⁹

... that filter-feeder
animals discovered?

... that the extinct ants Azteca alpha carried larvae of the nematode Formicodiplogaster myrmenema?

... that small shells of Trigonoconcha are triangular?

... that
raft
of vegetation?

... that the fossil ant genus Yantaromyrmex (pictured) is found in four amber deposits in Europe?

A Metapelma archetypon preserved in amber

... that the extinct parasitic wasp Metapelma archetypon is thought to have preyed upon wood-boring beetles?

... that blade-like teeth in the extinct mammalian family Ferugliotheriidae may have evolved into molar-like teeth in the Sudamericidae?

... that the extinct planthopper Emiliana was described from a single 47 million year old wing?

... that Entropezites, Mycetophagites, and Palaeoagaracites present the oldest evidence of fungal parasitism and hyperparasitism by other fungi in the fossil record?

... that Obamadon was an extinct lizard that was named after President Barack Obama as a tribute to his "role model of good oral hygiene for the world"?

⁴⁰

The holotype fossil of Allorapisma chuorum

... that wings of the extinct moth lacewing Allorapisma are most similar to a Cretaceous genus from Brazil?

... that the rauisuchian Tsylmosuchus is known from strata in Russia that are early Olenekian in age, making it one of the earliest archosaurs?

... that
malacologist Myra Keen
was called the "First Lady of Malacology"?

... that the nearest living relatives of tortoise beetle from Colorado
, are found in Africa, tropical Asia, and Australia?

... that when the
extinct forester moth Neurosymploca? oligocenica
was described, a second fossil was known but unavailable for study?

A life restoration of Belemnotheutis

... that the 150-million-year-old ink of the extinct, squid-like Belemnotheutis (artist's rendition pictured) was used to draw a picture that paleontologists called "the ultimate self portrait"?

... that genera of agaric mushrooms
known from the fossil record?

... that although the first two fossils of adapiform
primates?

... that the extinct Volgograd Region
?
... that fossils of Eucommia constans are the youngest and most southerly examples of Eucommia in North America?

⁴¹

A life restoration of two Centrosaurus, the primary constituent of the Hilda mega-bonebed

... that the Centrosaurus apertus
across an area of 2.3 square kilometers?

... that the oldest association between assassin bug Triatoma, is found in Triatoma dominicana and Trypanosoma antiquus
?

... that the extinct crocodile Rimasuchus often preyed on large mammals, including early humans?

... that the first described fossil of Aphaenogaster mersa (illustrated) had a white mold coating?

... that paleoneurology
?

A life restoration of Arizonasaurus

... that Arizonasaurus had a large sail along its back made of the spines on its vertebrae?

... that rice rats, is known only from one incomplete upper jaw from over 1 million year old silt deposits in Argentina
?

... that Urocyon progressus
, a species of extinct fox, was formally described after two bones and a tooth were found?

... that the scorpionfly family Eorpidae has a single genus, Eorpa, described in 2013?

... that based on its skull anatomy, the small
sense of hearing and was vocal like modern crocodiles
?

42

An Oligochlora semirugosa preserved in amber

... that the extinct sweat bee genus Oligochlora contains six species all known from the Dominican amber deposits on Hispaniola?

... that Riojasuchus was an ornithosuchid that is known from four skeletons and lived about 217 to 215 million years ago?

... that the extinct ant Pristomyrmex rasnitsyni is the first member of its genus found in Europe?

... that the extinct species Agulla mineralensis is the first North American snakefly to be described from Neogene fossils?

... that the amber entombing the extinct ant Haidoterminus cippus (pictured) was preserved in a lagoon or saltwater marsh?

Life restoration of Archelon

...that the largest sea turtles ever to have swum the oceans belonged to the family Protostegidae?

... that the extinct
ant-like stone beetle Kachinus, found in Cretaceous amber
, is similar in appearance to the modern genus Paraneseuthia?

... that at just over 18 millimetres (0.71 in), Fibla carpenteri is the largest species of snakefly known from amber?

... that Aenigmastacus, a fossil crayfish from Canada, belongs to a family only otherwise known from the Southern Hemisphere?

... that the extinct pseudoscorpion Pseudogarypus synchrotron is named for the synchrotron imaging equipment?

⁴³

A life restoration of Australodelphis mirus

... that the
whales
?

... that the extinct
Pseudosiobla cambelli
is one of three species of Pseudosiobla known from the fossil record?

... that the extinct ant Afromyrma petrosa was found over a diamond mine?

... that Shantungosuchus, a small, primitive crocodile from the Cretaceous period, was terrestrial instead of aquatic?

... that the rove beetle Diochus electrus is the first definite member of the subfamily Staphylininae from the fossil record?

A Cantabroraphidia marcanoi preserved in amber

... that the ancient snakefly Cantabroraphidia was the first snakefly described from the El Soplao ambers?

... that the recently described
crocodyliform Pakasuchus had molar
-like teeth that were as complex as those of carnivorous mammals?

... that a group of
Late Permian mammal relatives called Nanictidopidae (restoration pictured) may have eaten fruit
because their small teeth were unsuitable for grinding most plant material?

... that the Red Deer Cave people are the youngest prehistoric people discovered who do not appear similar to modern humans?

... that the extinct ant Anochetus conisquamis is noted for having a nipple-shaped spine?

⁴⁴

A fossil Archimyrmex wedmannae

... that a new species of the extinct ant Archimyrmex was described in 2012?

... that although the prehistoric shark Nanocetorhinus is named for the resemblance of its teeth to miniature Cetorhinus teeth, there is no evidence the two genera are closely related?

... that the only male "
extinct Eickwortapis
?

...that the
evolution of sex is a major puzzle of evolutionary biology
, due to the so-called two-fold cost of sex?

...that Nazis during World War II
?

An illustration of Leptocleidus fossils

...that unlike most
rivers
?

... that seeds of the extinct tree Eucommia eocenica have been found with latex covered fossils?

... that Mastotermes electromexicus was the first giant northern termite described from the New World?

...that the
extinct Australian dromornithids, which included the largest birds known, are related to ducks and geese
?

... that cycloids are believed to have been driven to extinction when crabs spread across their territory?

⁴⁵

A fossil of the cocoa flower Florissantia quilchenensis that symbolizes the Stonerose Interpretive Center

... that the
Stonerose fossil site contains the earliest known records of Rosaceae
, the rose family?

... that the
extinct water-fern Azolla primaeva
?

... that the fossil
Priabona
is named for the age of the rocks in which it was found?

...that the Silurian Lau extinction event caused the Earth to temporarily return to a condition similar to how it was before multicellular life evolved?

... that the extinct ant Gesomyrmex germanicus was described from only four fossils?

A fossil of Myrmeciites

... that species in the fossil ant genus Myrmeciites are named for Hercules, Goliath, and a river?

... that Tory Member of Parliament Admiral Theobald Jones (1790–1868) was a member of the Geological Society of London and kept a large collection of Carboniferous fishes?

... that the type specimen of the extinct nutmeg yew Torreya clarnensis is located in Florida?

... that the ants A. geinitzi
have been preserved in the same piece of amber?

... that highlights from the history of ornithomimosaur research include the ostrich-like Ornithomimus (skeletal mount pictured), an Archaeornithomimus bonebed in Mongolia, and the bizarre, giant-armed Deinocheirus?

⁴⁶

A skeltal mount of Pachcephalosaurus

... that the hypothesis that the pachycephalosaurian dinosaurs used their domed skulls in head-butting competitions was first proposed in a work of science fiction?

... that the extinct Protosialis casca is one of only two known alderflies from the West Indies?

... that the extinct ant species Apterostigma electropilosum was described from a solitary fossil in amber?

... that the
Trochodendron drachuckii is known from a single Eocene fossil found near Cache Creek, British Columbia
?

... that Protostephanus was the first extinct wasp genus in the family Stephanidae to be described from a fossil?

AnAcanthostichus hispaniolicus preserved in amber

... that the extinct ant Acanthostichus hispaniolicus is the only Acanthostichus species found in the West Indies?

... that the Miocene ant Acropyga glaesaria is one of the oldest examples of trophobiosis?

...that the barnacle Megabalanus can reach 7 cm in length?

... that a new family of predatory
Manipulatoridae, has been discovered from amber found in the Hukawng Valley of Myanmar
?

... that members of the extinct bivalve genus Hemiconcavodonta are unique in the subfamily Concavodontinae in that their teeth point in two directions?

⁴⁷

An Orsten limestone concretion

... that Orsten, fossil-bearing lagerstätten in Sweden and elsewhere, are called "stinking stones" from organic content that has been preserved since the Cambrian Period?

... that the extinct fern species Wesley C. Wehr
?

... that fossils of the extinct
bivalve family Praenuculidae
have been found on every continent except Antarctica?

...that
prehistoric frog Beelzebufo may have grown to over 40 cm (16 in)^*
(size comparison pictured), larger than any living frogs, and is called "the Frog from Hell" by the media?

... that the
herbivorous dinosaurs, indicating it may not have been a strict carnivore
?

A fossilized Sassafras hesperia leaf

... that unlike modern Sassafras, which are deciduous, the extinct species Sassafras hesperia (fossil pictured) may have been evergreen?

... that the fordilloid Camya asy is one of four accepted Cambrian bivalves?

... that the Ph.D dissertation of taphonomist sauropods
were terrestrial?

... that the
big-headed fly Metanephrocerus belgardeae
expanded the known range for the genus to North America?

... that the original type specimens of the Electrostephanus fossils may have been burned up during World War II?

⁴⁸

Fossilized Araucaria mirabilis cones

... that the Jurassic conifer Araucaria mirabilis (cone pictured) of Argentina may have been a primary food for sauropods?

... that a fossil flower of the
extinct palm Roystonea palaea
shows damage possibly made by a bat or bird?

... that highlights from the history of ankylosaur research include one of the first dinosaurs ever discovered and a dinosaur with armored eyelids?

...that Bering land bridge into Alaska
?

... that Upper Cambrian
?

A life restoration of Raranimus

... that the recently described
Therapsida, from which mammals
are a descendant taxon?

... that the extinct sweat bee Halictus? savenyei was the first fossil bee from Canada to be described?

... that
color patterning
?

... that the extinct snakefly genus Proraphidia is known from fossils found in Spain, England, and Kazakhstan?

... that remains of the recently described saber-toothed anomodont Tiarajudens were uncovered from a location in Brazil that was first found using Google Earth?

⁴⁹

An Asymphylomyrmex balticus preserved in amber

... that the extinct ant Asymphylomyrmex (pictured) was suggested to be a specialized group with no descendants?

... that fossils of the extinct legume Hymenaea mexicana show several types of insect feeding?

... that fossils of the extinct legume Hymenaea mexicana show several types of insect feeding?

... that the extinct Syndesus ambericus is the only stag beetle known from the Caribbean?

...that
T.H. Clark retired from McGill University in Quebec, Canada, at the age of 100
, after teaching for 69 years?

A life restoration of Styxosaurus

...that the first Styxosaurus fossil to be discovered had about 250 stones in its stomach that it probably swallowed for ballast?

... that unlike the living
golden-club Orontium aquaticum (pictured), the extinct species Orontium mackii
may not have needed wetlands to grow?

... that an unnamed member of the extinct order Hupehsuchia exhibited an unusual form of polydactyly that is similar to that of some early tetrapods of the Devonian period?

... that the recently named
temnospondyl Fedexia was named after the shipping service FedEx, which owned the land where the holotype
specimen was found?

... that the name Pachylemur, now used for a type of extinct giant lemur, was first used as group name of primitive primates once considered intermediate between pachyderms and lemurs?

⁵⁰

A life restoration of Hadropithecus stenognathus

... that the extinct monkey lemurs, including Hadropithecus (pictured), were most closely related to modern indris and sifakas, as well as the extinct sloth lemurs?

... that over 16 million years ago, four species of parrot in the genus Nelepsittacus made their home in subtropical rainforest in what is now Otago, New Zealand?

... that Paul S. Martin and Paul Sidney Martin both worked as anthropologists at the University of Arizona in the early 1970s?

... that the extinct planthopper Ordralfabetix is named for a character from The Adventures of Asterix?

... that the Late Cretaceous madtsoiid snake Menarana had several adaptations for head-first burrowing, but its large size may have made burrowing difficult or impossible?

A life restoration of Schinderhannes

... that an
anomalocaridid, a bizarre Cambrian organism, has been found 100 million years later, in the Devonian
era?

... that the fossil crane fly Elephantomyia baltica is known from a single male in amber?

... that the fossil ant Aphaenogaster praerelicta is entombed in amber with three flies, two springtails, and a wasp?

... that with a forewing length of only 3.36 millimetres (0.132 in) Microberotha is one of the smallest known beaded lacewings to have been described?

... that the
graceful rock crab
?

⁵¹

A life restoration of Shonisaurus popularis

... that highlights from the history of ichthyosaur research (example pictured) include fossils of pregnant females, whale-sized ichthyosaurs from Nevada, and ichthyosaurs with swordfish-like jaws?

... that one
caterpillars
to its larvae?

... that humans living next to a lake at the Bouri Formation in Ethiopia 160,000 and 154,000 years ago butchered not only adult Hippopotamuses but also those that were newborn?

... that the
wing scales
can be seen?

... that wildfires have occurred on the Earth for over 420 million years?

A life restoration of Nankangia

... that it is unknown whether the dinosaur Nankangia was carnivorous or herbivorous?

... that Yangtze River but is now thought to come from an extinct ape that lived in China
two million years ago?

... that the extinct, Triassic, bivalve family Cassianellidae may have evolved from the family Bakevelliidae, which survived longer into the Eocene?

... that Pseudarmadillo tuberculatus was one of two Pseudarmadillo species described in 1984 from fossils in Dominican amber?

... that the recently named
rhamphorhynchid Bellubrunnus (restoration pictured) from the Jurassic of Germany is the only known pterosaur
to have wing tips that curved forward?

52

A scanning electron micrograph of a chitinozoan

...that eighty years on, scientists are still debating whether the
SEM
image pictured) represent plants, animals or eggs?

... that the extinct wasps Dryinus grimaldii and Dryinus rasnitsyni are distinguishable by the modified claws on their front legs?

... that only three possible fossils of the extinct ant Aphaenogaster oligocenica have been reported?

... that Calsoyasuchus valleyceps, an extinct crocodile relative from the Early Jurassic, has a deep groove in its skull from which its species name, "valley head", derives?

... that the wings of the extinct ant Aphaenogaster longaeva had "excessively delicate" hairs?

A diagram of a Sanajeh preserves in a titanosaur nest

... that the
sauropod dinosaurs at nesting sites in India
?

... that the
temnospondyl Tambachia, refers to the Thuringian bratwurst
that was frequently eaten by the describers of the species?

... that Tyrannasorus rex had wings and six legs?

... that the existence of a sea monster in Scotland has finally been proven?

... that Francisco Javier Muñiz was considered the first important naturalist from Argentina?

⁵³

A cast of the Maxberg specimen of Archaeopteryx lithographica

... that the
Maxberg specimen, one of only 10 Archaeopteryx
specimens ever found, has been lost since 1991?

... that the first Columbian mammoth (artist's restoration pictured) found at the Snowmastodon site, an Ice Age fossil dig near Denver, was initially dug out by a construction worker using a bulldozer?

... that the fossil moss Rhizomnium dentatum is preserved in the same amber block as two other mosses and part of a centipede?

... that the 500-million-year-old Cambrian predator Hurdia was thought to be a number of separate organisms for 100 years, until the complete animal was reconstructed in March 2009?

... that the extinct
Sebek, the ancient Egyptian crocodile
god?

A Nanotermes isaacae preserved in amber

... that the 2.0-millimetre (0.079 in) long Nanotermes (pictured) are possibly the smallest adult termites known?

... that the extinct species Cornus
?

... that members of the fossil insect family Armaniidae
have been described as "ant-like wasps"?

... that the
forewings found in Dorset, England and Tennessee
, US?

... that the
extinct spider Eoplectreurys is the oldest described genus of Haplogynae, predating spiders from Cretaceous amber in Jordan and Lebanon
?

54

A Burmomyrma rossi preserved in amber

... that the extinct ant Burmomyrma rossi
was missing its head when described?

... that out of the described
Raphidia funerata holotype
is the most complete?

... that Alanqa is a newly described pterosaur from Morocco which had a wingspan of up to six metres?

... that the extinct genus Paleopanax is one of the oldest reliable records for the ginseng family?

... that with a 20 million year fossil record, Acer chaneyi has the longest fossil record of the Western North American maples?

A fossilized Trochodendron nastae leaf

... that the primary leaf veins for the
extinct plant Trochodendron nastae are palmate rather than being pinnate like those in the living Trochodendron aralioides
?

... that the
crocodilian relative Susisuchus was one of the first mesoeucrocodylians to have a segmented shield of bony osteoderms
over its back, which allowed for greater flexibility while swimming?

... that the extinct
griffenfly genus Bohemiatupus inhabited peat-mires
?

... that the extinct rose species Stonebergia columbiana is named for its type locality of British Columbia?

... that the Miocene maple Acer latahense is most similar in appearance to the living Honshū maple?

⁵⁵

Fossil lake interpretive sign

... that
giant ground sloth, pre-historic bison, camel, and horse have been found at Fossil Lake in south central Oregon
?

... that findings of Cylindroteuthis and other belemnites in Greenland suggest that an early form of the Gulf Stream existed as early as the Valanginian (Early Cretaceous)?

... that the type specimen of Kinkonychelys represents the first turtle skull described from the pre-Holocene era in Madagascar?

...that
Castorocauda lutrasimilis, a recently described mammal relative that looked like an otter with a beaver's tail, evolved a semi-aquatic
lifestyle 110 million years earlier than any other mammal-like animal?

... that the extinct earwig Tytthodiplatys is the oldest confirmed member of its family?

A skeletal mount of Smok wawelski

... that a fossilized dragon
has been found in Poland?

... that meteor impact
?

... that the shell of the extinct sea urchin Pelanechinus corallina was composed of separate groups of fused plates which resulted in its being flexible?

... that fossils of the extinct sumac Rhus malloryi (pictured) were first published in 1935?

... that although predator
?

⁵⁶

A model of Dinocochlea ingens with Paul D. Taylor for scale.

... that fossilised dinosaur dung but is actually a solidified
worm's burrow?

... that the
extinct stingray Heliobatis
(pictured) has been found with up to three stings on its tail?

... that the extinct ant Anochetus intermedius had mandibles longer than its head?
... that Gymnophyllum wardi
is found?

...that the prehistoric badger genus Chamitataxus lived during the Late Miocene and is considered the most primitive badger genus in North America?

An illustration of a fossil of the arthropleuridean arthropleura

... that Arthropleuridea is an extinct class of myriapods which includes, at over 2 meters long, the largest terrestrial arthropods that ever lived?

⁵⁷

A size comparison image of Utahraptor with a human to scale

... that highlights from the history of dromaeosaurid research include a skeleton of Velociraptor preserved in combat with a Protoceratops, the gigantic Utahraptor, and tiny four-winged Microraptor?

... that the extinct
lobe-finned fish Laccognathus embryi
(reconstruction pictured) had fangs up to 3.8 cm (1.5 in) long?

...that ostracoderms are the earliest known vertebrate animals?

... that the extinct witch-hazel Langeria is named for American philosopher Susanne Langer?

... that the only fossil of the extinct moth paleoentomologist
's desk for a number of years before being described in 2011?

A life restoration of a Repenomamus feeding on a dinosaur hatchling

...that Repenomamus may have been the largest mammal in the Cretaceous period and is the only mammal known to have eaten non-avian dinosaurs?

⁵⁸

A life restoration of Lyddekerina

... that unlike other stereospondyl amphibians, the Triassic Lydekkerina (restoration pictured) lived entirely on land?

... that the extinct Miocene redwood, Sequoiadendron chaneyi, is the probable ancestor to the giant sequoias in California?

...that Terminonatator ponteixensis is the type and only species described for Terminonatator, a genus of elasmosaurid plesiosaur from Late Cretaceous of Saskatchewan, Canada?

... that the extinct
Corylopsis readae was described from a single Ypresian
fossil?

A life restoration of Vancleavea

... that the
archosauriforms
?

⁵⁹

A Plumalexius preserved in amber

... that the extinct Cretaceous wasp family Plumalexiidae is known from only the two Plumalexius type specimens found in New Jersey amber?

A life restoration of Santanachelys

...that Santanachelys gaffneyi is the earliest known sea turtle?

⁶⁰

A fossilized leaf of Orontium wolfei

... that the pattern of the veins on fossil leaves of the extinct golden-club Orontium wolfei confirm it as a member of the arum family?

... that the Albian 100-million-year-old fossil wasp Myanmymar (pictured) is only half a millimetre long?

... that the
ate them
?

... that the newly named extinct prawn Aciculopoda is the third unambiguous fossil decapod from before the Mesozoic?

... that the extinct ant Afropone was first described from fossils in kimberlite?

A fossil of Titanomyrma gigantea

... that the discovery of the fossil giant ant Titanomyrma (pictured with a hummingbird) in Wyoming indicates that warmth-loving fauna spread through the north between Europe and America during hot spells in the Eocene?

⁶¹

... that highlights from
dinosaur footprints in Massachusetts, and the mysterious hand-shaped Chirotherium
tracks (pictured)?

A skeltal mount of Apatosaurus accompanied by sauropod footprints excavated in Texas

... that during the dinosaur footprints was undertaken in Texas for an exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History
?

62

An illustration of Chatham coot fossils

... that the
Chatham Coot were likely hunted to extinction by the Māori people
?

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