This #FossilFriday, get to know “the father of all beasts”: Indricotherium transouralicum.
It lived during the Oligocene some 30 million years ago. Indricotherium represented the culmination of an evolutionary lineage of fast-running rhinos that developed relatively long necks, legs, and feet. This animal probably fed on the leafy vegetation of shrubs and trees that grew above the reach of other large, contemporary herbivores. The skull and jaw on display in the Museum’s Hall of Advanced Mammals were found in Mongolia.
Happy #FossilFriday! Today we bring you Allosaurus. Did you know? This intimidating carnivore reigned as one of the Late Jurassic’s top predators some 140 million years ago.
In the Museum’s Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs, Allosaurus is posed feeding on a partial carcass of the sauropod Apatosaurus. You can spot another Allosaurus in the Museum’s Rotunda, where it’s depicted attacking another long-necked dinosaur, the Barosaurus, and its young.
It’s time for #FossilFriday! Meet Tupuxuara leonardii, or the “familiar spirit.” It lived during the Middle Cretaceous around 110 million years ago. Among the vertebrates, pterosaurs were the first to evolve true powered flight.✈️
This pterosaur was an advanced member of the group known as pterodactyloids, which were characterized by loss of the tail. Tupuxuara had a crest on the back of its skull that may have helped guide it during flight. Spot this pterosaur in the Museum’s Hall Vertebrate Origins.
Over 110,000,000 years old. This Ammonite shell was found in Madagascar, and is known as a cleoniceras. . Follow @neojurassica to see more #prehistoric wonders! . www.neojurassica.com Dinosaur Specialists Genuine Fossils ⚙️ Display Customisation Free UK Delivery ✈️ International Delivery . #ammonite #ammonites #shell #seashell #nature #natural #naturalhistory #landscape #history #prehistory #archeology #geology #paleontology #palaeontology #science #fossil #fossils #fossilhunting #fossilfriday #crystals #enchanted #whimsical #mystery #jurassic #jurassicpark #neojurassica #woods #forest #ammonitefossil https://www.instagram.com/p/CTXIXpCNgG1/?utm_medium=tumblr
Beautiful red harpes trilobite from Morocco. This fossil dates back to the Devonian era, being over 100 million years older than the oldest dinosaur fossils. . Follow @neojurassica to see more #prehistoric wonders! . www.neojurassica.com Dinosaur Specialists Genuine Fossils ⚙️ Display Customisation Free UK Delivery ✈️ International Delivery . #trilobite #trilobites #fossil #fossils #fossilhunting #fossilprep #fossilfriday #extinct #extinction #evolution #devonian #jurassic #jurassicworld #neojurassica #dinosaurs #palaeontology #paleontology #geology #archeology #science #nature #naturalhistory #history #discovery #animal #prehistoricanimals #prehistory https://www.instagram.com/p/CTH6VILNZ4I/?utm_medium=tumblr
Two red trilobites with exceptional green eyes. These both date back to the Devonian era, over 360 million years ago! . Follow @neojurassica to see more #prehistoric wonders! . www.neojurassica.com Dinosaur Specialists Genuine Fossils ⚙️ Display Customisation Free UK Delivery ✈️ International Delivery . #trilobite #trilobites #extinct #extinction #fossil #fossils #fossilfriday #paleontology #palaeontology #geology #archeology #science #nature #naturalhistory #history #prehistory #jurassicpark #neojurassica #rocks #crystals #trilobitefossil https://www.instagram.com/p/CTFbmKttSnR/?utm_medium=tumblr
A pile of Jurassic ribs. These all belong to @mike_the_pliosaur and are just some of the many ribs/gastralia preserved. Mike was found along the Yorkshire Coast of Britain and his skeleton is over 175 million years old! . Follow @neojurassica to see more #prehistoric wonders! . www.neojurassica.com Dinosaur Specialists Genuine Fossils ⚙️ Display Customisation Free UK Delivery ✈️ International Delivery . #MikeThePliosaur #pliosaur #hauffiosaur #plesiosaur #plesiosaurus #dinosaur #dinosaur #dinosaurbones #dinosaurskeleton #extinct #bones #ribs #fossil #fossils #fossilfriday #fossilhunting #naturalhistory #nature #history #archeology #geology #paleontology #palaeontology #science #jurassic #jurassicpark #jurassicworld #neojurassica #prehistoricanimals #grave https://www.instagram.com/p/CRG297BNVWc/?utm_medium=tumblr
Two ribs beautifully preserved belonging to @mike_the_pliosaur. The fossilised skeleton was found along the Yorkshire Coast of Britain & dates back to the Jurassic era. . Follow @neojurassica to see more #prehistoric wonders! . www.neojurassica.com Dinosaur Specialists Genuine Fossils ⚙️ Display Customisation Free UK Delivery ✈️ International Delivery . #MikeThePliosaur #plesiosaur #dinosaur #dinosaurbones #bones #ribs #extinct #extinction #evolution #nature #naturalhistory #history #archeology #geology #paleontology #palaeontology #science #fossils #fossilfriday #ecosystem #life #biology #coast #beach #jurassic #jurassiccoast #jurassicpark #jurassicworld #neojurassica https://www.instagram.com/p/CPtfIHSNlxq/?utm_medium=tumblr
Here we have a fossil that is over 175,000,000 years old, dating back to the Jurassic era. This fossil is a vertebrae belonging to a Pliosaur (@mike_the_pliosaur). The bone was found along the Yorkshire Coast of Britain along with the rest of the skeleton. . Follow @neojurassica to see more #prehistoric wonders! . www.neojurassica.com Dinosaur Specialists Genuine Fossils ⚙️ Display Customisation Free UK Delivery ✈️ International Delivery . #pliosaur #plesiosaur #plesiosaurs #MikeThePliosaur #dinosaur #dinosaurs #dinosaurbones #extinct #nature #natural #naturalhistory #history #archaeology #palaeontology #paleontology #geology #science #stem #bone #jurassic #jurassicpark #jurassicworld #neojurassica #fossil #fossils #fossilhunting #fossilfriday #prehistory https://www.instagram.com/p/CPqB8WptFHl/?utm_medium=tumblr
The claw of a dinosaur? Whilst these are genuine dinosaur bones dating back to the Cretaceous era, this is actually a (composite) foot. . Follow @neojurassica to see more #prehistoric wonders! . www.neojurassica.com Dinosaur Specialists Genuine Fossils ⚙️ Display Customisation Free UK Delivery ✈️ International Delivery . #dinosaur #dinosaurs #dinosaurbones #dino #extinct #evolution #fossil #fossils #fossilfriday #palaeontology #paleontology #geology #paleoart #science #nature #naturalhistory #history #archeology #animal #raptor #jurassic #jurassicpark #jurassicworld #neojurassica #tropical #exotic #prehistoricanimals #wildlife #natural https://www.instagram.com/p/CPeBdJuNMX9/?utm_medium=tumblr
These are Pliosaur phalanges, the finger bones of a large marine predator that lived in the Jurassic era. The bones belong to @mike_the_pliosaur, a hauffiosaurus from the Yorkshire Coast of Britain. . Follow @neojurassica to see more #prehistoric wonders! . www.neojurassica.com Dinosaur Specialists Genuine Fossils ⚙️ Display Customisation Free UK Delivery ✈️ International Delivery . #pliosaur #plesiosaur #marinereptile #dino #dinosaur #dinosaurs #dinosaurbones #MikeThePliosaur #extinct #evolution #fossil #fossils #fossilfriday #jurassic #jurassicpark #jurassicworld #neojurassica #mesozoic #naturalhistory #nature #naturephotography #palaeontology #paleontology #geology #science #paleobiology #discovery #archaeology #museum https://www.instagram.com/p/CPa_x7atJeF/?utm_medium=tumblr
Dating back to the Jurassic era, this fossil is a section of the lower jaw of Mike The Pliosaur. Mike was a hauffiosaurus, and his fossilised skeleton was found along the Yorkshire Coast of England. . Follow @neojurassica to see more #prehistoric wonders! . www.neojurassica.com Dinosaur Specialists Genuine Fossils ⚙️ Display Customisation Free UK Delivery ✈️ International Delivery . #MikeThePliosaur #pliosaur #plesiosaur #hauffiosaur #plesiosaurs #dinosaurs #dinosaur #dinosaurbones #extinct #fossil #fossils #fossilfriday #jurassic #jurassicpark #jurassicworld #neojurassica #palaeontology #paleontology #geology #science #antique #artifact #archaeology #history #naturalhistory #nature #prehistoricanimals #museum #prehistory https://www.instagram.com/p/CPTj9l8N512/?utm_medium=tumblr
Two vertebrae belong to @mike_the_pliosaur, a hauffiosaurus from the Yorkshire Coast of Britain. Mike dates back to the Jurassic era when he was a marine predator, before he became a pile of dusty fossilised bones. . Follow @neojurassica to see more #prehistoric wonders! . www.neojurassica.com Dinosaur Specialists Genuine Fossils ⚙️ Display Customisation Free UK Delivery ✈️ International Delivery . #MikeThePliosaur #pliosaur #plesiosaur #fossil #fossils #fossilfriday #extinct #evolution #palaeontology #paleontology #geology #science #nature #naturalhistory #history #archeology #natural #tropical #exotic #prehistoricanimals #bones #jurassic #jurassicpark #jurassicworld #neojurassica #dinosaur #dinosaurs #dinosaurbones #yorkshiresjurassicworld https://www.instagram.com/p/CPK8cEfNiCH/?utm_medium=tumblr
Little paddle belonging to a juvenile Ichthyosaur. The small skeleton was found near Lyme Regis, a historic town on Britain’s Jurassic Coast where pioneer of palaeontology, Mary Anning, once lived. This skeleton is near complete and more photos will be coming soon once it’s fully prepared. . Follow @neojurassica to see more #prehistoric wonders! . www.neojurasssica.com Dinosaur Specialists Genuine Fossils ⚙️ Display Customisation Free UK Delivery ✈️ International Delivery . #ichthyosaur #ichthyosaurus #marinereptile #dinosaur #dinosaurs #dinosaurbones #dinosaurskeleton #skeleton #extinct #evolution #fossils #fossil #fossilhunting #fossilfriday #prehistory #naturalhistory #nature #history #archeology #palaeontology #paleontology #paleobiology #science #stem #jurassic #jurassicpark #jurassicworld #jurassiccoast #neojurassica https://www.instagram.com/p/CPImKTCNSvw/?utm_medium=tumblr
Two Femurs One is from our plesiosaur from Lyme Regis, one is from our Pliosaur (@mike_the_pliosaur). Can you guess which is which? . Follow @neojurassica to see more #prehistoric wonders! . www.neojurassica.com Dinosaur Specialists Genuine Fossils ⚙️ Display Customisation Free UK Delivery ✈️ International Delivery . #MikeThePliosaur #pliosaur #plesiosaur #plesiosaurus #plesiosaurs #fossils #fossil #fossilhunting #fossilfriday #paleontology #palaeontology #geology #science #bones #dinosaurbones #dinosaurs #dino #extinct #evolution #nature #naturalhistory #jurassic #jurassicpark #jurassicworld #neojurassica #walkingwithdinosaurs #archaeology #tropical #prehistoricanimals https://www.instagram.com/p/CPGQdZLN7jc/?utm_medium=tumblr
Pterosaurs, flying reptiles and close relatives of the dinosaurs, already developed feathers of different shapes and colours. This has been proven by a 115 million year old Brazilian fossil, studied by a team of palaeontologists. ‘Coloured feathers were used to show off’, says palaeontologist Aude Cincotta of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (@rbins). ‘Our study suggests that coloured feathers could already have appeared in the common ancestor of dinosaurs and pterosaurs.’
An international team of palaeontologists and geologists has found new evidence that pterosaurs had feathers of various colours. The discovery provides more insight into the origin and function of primitive feathers. The researchers published their findings in Nature.
The team from Brazil, Ireland, Belgium and France studied a 115 million-year-old pterosaur fossil from the Crato Formation in north-eastern Brazil. The fossil of this Tupandactylus imperator consists of the skull topped by an enormous crest of soft tissue, that has not been fossilized, but of which the imprint has been preserved. Feathers were attached to the base of the crest.
‘This is a spectacular discovery,’ says researcher Aude Cincotta (RBINS), who led the study. ‘For a long time, there was discussion about whether pterosaurs had feathers. As of now, we have firm evidence that this was indeed the case, and that the feathers were quite complex. We were able to distinguish two types of feathers in this Brazilian fossil: elongated, unbranched feathers and small branched feathers. The discovery of branched feathers is new in pterosaurs. They were only known for certain carnivorous dinosaurs, the theropods, ancestors of birds.’
Showing off
A second important finding: fossil melanosomes. These are microscopic structures in the skin and in certain organs that contain the pigment melanin. In today’s birds, the shape of these melanosomes determines the color of the feathers. The analysis shows that the melanosomes in the two types of pterosaur feathers as well as in the soft-tissue crest have a different shape (elongated, ovoid or spheroid). These differences were only known in theropod dinosaurs (including birds).
This study shows that pterosaurs already had feathers with colour variations and that they were probably used for visual communication and display: to show off. The fact that these pigmented feathers are found in both dinosaurs and pterosaurs suggests that their common ancestor in the Middle or Late Triassic (about 250 to 200 million years ago) already had the ability to sport colored feathers.
Safeguarding fossils
Thanks to cooperation between Belgian and Brazilian scientists, national authorities, and a private collector, the pterosaur fossil could be repatriated to Brazil in February 2022. ‘It is so important that scientifically important fossils such as this one are returned to their countries of origin and safely conserved for posterity,’ says Edio-Ernst Kischlat of the Brazilian Geological Service, who co-authored the study. ‘These fossils can then be made available to scientists for further study and can inspire future generations of scientists through public exhibitions that celebrate our natural heritage.’
#FossilFriday: Crinoids (Genus Encrinus) lived during the Middle Triassic Epoch. #SciArt from Curso Elemental de Zoología (1898) by Henri Milne-Edwards, translated into Spanish by Elías Zerolo. Contributed for digitization in #BiodiversityHeritageLibrary by Dirección de Bibliotecas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León @uanlred. https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54364278 _________________________________________________ #Fossils #Triassic #Crinoids #BHLib #Biodiversity #NaturalHistory #NatHist #ScientificIllustration #ScientificArt #OpenAccess #Libraries #Archives #SpecialCollections #LibrariesofInstagram #IGLibraries #IG_Libraries #UANL #BHLMexico
This is the tip of a tusk belonging to an extinct Mastodon.
Mastodons were browsers this means that they had a diet containing twigs, leaves, and smaller plant vegetation. They lived in warm lower land environments and Ice Age forests.
This fish is a Thrissops, a genus of ray-finned, bony fish that swam in the seas during the Jurassic and the Cretaceous. This extremely well preserved sample was preserved in the Kimmeridge clay, a geologic unit made of fine-grained sediment that sank to the bottom of a Jurassic seaway. The unit is exposed on the Dorset coast of England and travels offshore where it is the major source of North Sea oil and natural gas. This sample is housed in the Etches Collection – a private museum in the area where this fossil was found.
An expert tour through the origin of animal life and the so-called “Cambrian Explosion” where the fossil record suddenly has the appearance of animal life with hard part 543 million years ago.
