Animal News Stories

News stories and articles that do not necessarily feature extinct animals.

3 10, 2011

New Species of Crocodile Discovered Down a Colombian Mine

By Mike|2023-03-08T13:37:07+00:00October 3rd, 2011|Animal News Stories, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Palaeogene Crocodile Fossil Suggests Crocodiles Quick to Exploit Dinosaur Extinction

The fossilised remains of an ancient crocodile have been discovered by a team of American scientists whilst working underground exploiting a rich, fossiliferous seam in a Colombian coal mine. This crocodile has been identified as a new species and at more than six metres long it was a sizeable reptile, one whose ancestors survived the Cretaceous mass extinction event and quickly adapted to exploit predatory niches once occupied by the Dinosauria.

Ancient Crocodile

The new species of crocodile was discovered by a team of University of Florida researchers, led by Jonathan Bloch Associate Curator of Vertebrate Palaeontology at the Florida Museum of Natural History assisted by Carlos Jaramillo, a palaeobotanist with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

A Picture of Alex Hastings with the Fossils from the Crocodile Specimens

Assembling the fossil evidence for Acherontisuchus.

Picture credit: Kristen Grace/Florida Museum of Natural History

This crocodile Acherontisuchus guajiraensis is just one of a number of amazing fossil discoveries made by the research team as they explore the underground strata which represent sediments laid down in a tropical Amazon-like environment approximately sixty million years ago. A species of super-thick shelled Chelonian had been described recently, the reason for the strong carapace being revealed with the discovery of fossils of this fearsome crocodile.

To read more about this discovery: Fossil Turtle Had Super-Thick Shell to Defend Itself from Predators.

Perhaps the most astonishing discovery made to date in the Cerrejón coal mine was the fossils of an enormous snake, the largest known in the fossil record. The snake, a constrictor is estimated to have measured more than fifteen metres long and weighed as much as 1,200 kilogrammes. The snake was named Titanoboa cerrejonensis it would have been an apex predator in the rain forest environment but from our research the paper’s published indicate that this snake was more closely related to Boas than to the Amazon’s largest snake – the Anaconda.

To read more about Titanoboa: Titanoboa – Super huge Snake of the Tertiary.

Rebor produced a limited-edition replica of Titanoboa swallowing a Columbian crocodilian.

To view the Rebor range and the Titanoboa figures (whilst stocks last): Rebor Prehistoric Figures and Replicas.

The holotype specimen for this new species was actually collected by Alex Hastings, a University of Florida PhD student in the department of geological sciences. The coal mine is a particularly unpleasant place to work. The coal seams can spontaneously combust and they give off a powerful and very unpalatable sulphurous odour. This coupled with the extreme heat and humidity makes the excavation of fossils extremely difficult.

Acherontisuchus guajiraensis

A. guaijraensis was a member of a crocodile family that were not direct ancestors of today’s crocodiles, gharials, caiman or alligators, but this discovery is important as it is helping scientists to build up a picture of ecosystems in the aftermath of the Cretaceous mass extinction event. Judging by the size of this new crocodile species and Titanoboa it seems that sixty million years ago reptiles still ruled the world, at least in South America.

It seems that the Acherontisuchus genera survived the cataclysm that led to the dinosaurs demise and interestingly, this fossil is the first evidence of a large crocodile member of this genera being associated with a freshwater habitat. Previously, all fossil evidence of large crocodiles ascribed to the Acherontisuchus genera had been found in association with marine environments. This suggests that crocodiles were quick to adapt to and exploit niches vacated by other animals that did not survive the mass extinction event.

An Illustration of Acherontisuchus guaijraensis

Colombia – sixty million years ago. Acherontisuchus guajiraensis is hunting fish. Titanoboa, the world’s largest snake, is pictured in the background.

Picture credit: Danielle Byerley/Florida Museum of Natural History.

Commenting on this discovery, student Alex Hastings stated:

“One of the questions about this group was how were they able to survive – what advantages did they [Acherontisuchus genera] have? What this new crocodile really contributes to is that it is the first evidence of a large-bodied member of this group being found in freshwater. Before now, it was thought that only baby crocodiles would spend any appreciable amount of time in freshwater and that adults spent most of their time in a saltwater environment.”

The size estimates for this new species have been scaled up from the larger of two individual specimens discovered at the site. Based on an analysis of the limited skull and jaw material, scientists have described this crocodile as having a long narrow snout, superficially resembling that of an extant gharial. It seems from the shape of the jaws that this crocodile was primarily a piscivore (fish-eater).

The Cerrejón coal mine is proving to be a rich source of evidence about tropical Palaeogene environments just a few million years after the dinosaurs disappeared. We suspect that more amazing fossils await discovery, perhaps another big crocodile, one that could even match the likes of Sarcosuchus imperator in terms of size.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the Florida Museum of Natural History (01/10/2011) in the compilation of this article.

10 09, 2011

Activists Demand Huge Philippine Crocodile Be Released and Set Free

By Mike|2024-04-22T11:50:37+01:00September 10th, 2011|Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Mayor Stands Firm Over Monster Croc

A one tonne Saltwater crocodile that was caught earlier this week, will not be released back into the wild, despite concerns for the animal’s welfare after it had not eaten since its capture. An animal rights group urged the Philippine authorities to free what is thought to be the world’s largest crocodile in captivity, even though it allegedly killed two people.

Philippine Crocodile

The monster 6.4-metre-long male Saltwater crocodile was placed in a penned pond after it was caught in a remote southern creek on September 3rd, with local officials planning to use it as a tourist attraction once it had become adapted to its incarceration. However, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals senior Asia-Pacific campaigner Ashley Fruno said that despite suspicion that this reptile was a man-eater, the crocodile was better off being returned to the wild, away from human settlements.

She stated:

“The government should do the compassionate thing and order this crocodile to be returned to his natural habitat, as taking him away to be locked up in an animal prison is just plain wrong. Penned animals are prone to psychotic behaviour and its immense size and power could prove dangerous to visitors and those caring for it.”

Expressing her concern for the creature’s welfare she added:

“While even those zoos with the best intentions can never replicate the natural environment of animals, how do they expect to come remotely close with a crocodile roughly two or three times the size of a regular adult?”

The crocodile nicknamed “Lolong” weighed 1,075 kilogrammes when it was captured earlier this week. A number of attacks on people and livestock in the area had been reported in and around the town of Bunawan and following a programme of trapping this suspected man-eater was finally captured. However, locals state that there are a number of very large crocodiles living in the nearby marshland.

To read more about Lolong’s capture: Monster Crocodile Captured in the Philippines.

Rollie Sumiller, who led the team that trapped the animal, commented that removing from the wild a huge reptile suspected of attacking humans was the correct thing to do.

Bunawan Mayor Edwin Elorde said that the crocodile would not be released, stating that the safety of the residents of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur remains as the top priority of the local government.

For models and replicas of crocodilians (whilst stocks last): Mojo Fun Replicas of Prehistoric Animals and Dinosaurs.

6 09, 2011

Monster Crocodile Caught in the Philippines

By Mike|2023-01-21T07:15:39+00:00September 6th, 2011|Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Villagers Catch Huge Saltwater Crocodile after Three Week Hunt

An enormous, monster crocodile that measures 6.4 metres in length and weighing more than a tonne has been caught by villagers in marshes surrounding a remote part of the southern Philippines. The hunt was organised after a series of attacks on livestock and people say officials and this particular crocodile is the biggest caught alive in the Philippines in living memory.

Local officials are also claiming that this giant reptile may be the biggest specimen ever captured. Recently, giant crocodiles hit the headlines when a “Saltie” known as “Cassius” which resides in a marine park in northern Queensland was officially declared the largest crocodile in captivity by the Guinness Book of Records. However, if plans to put this Philippine croc into a marine park come to fruition then this new specimen will be the new world record holder.

The Difference Between a Crocodile and an Alligator

Crocodile (top) and Alligator (bottom).

Pictures released show the captured crocodile on a trolley surrounded by curious villagers, whilst the image above shows the difference between a crocodile and an alligator.

For replicas and models of reptiles and other ancient creatures: Prehistoric Life (Mojo Fun Models).

Josefina de Leon, wildlife division chief of the environment ministry’s protected areas and wildlife bureau, said it was likely to be the biggest crocodile ever captured.

She went onto state:

“This is the biggest animal that I’ve handled in 20 years of trapping.”

The hunt for the crocodile in the village of Bunawan began in mid-August and it took dozens of local men to secure its capture on Saturday. There had been a number of crocodile attacks on livestock and at least one fatal attack on a fisherman. However, crocodile hunter Rollie Sumiller, who led the hunt, said this reptile may not be the killer they have been looking for as the local marshes in the province of Agusan del Sur are a wildlife sanctuary and the home to a number of super-sized crocodiles. Several traps had been set to catch the monster, these proved too weak to contain the powerful animal but eventually a stronger trap was built and this example of a super predator captured.

Rollie commented:

“We’re not really sure if this is the man-eater, because there have been other sightings of other crocodiles in the area.”

There are plans to build a tourist attraction eco-park in the area, the super-sized crocodile will become one of the star attractions, permitting visitors to get up close to a truly gigantic reptile. Saltwater crocodile attacks are all too frequent, last month we reported on a fatal crocodile attack on a teenage boy on the Salafem river.

To read this article: Crocodile Kills Fourteen-Year-Old Boy.

1 09, 2011

Tasmanian Tiger No Sheep Killer

By Mike|2023-01-20T18:21:36+00:00September 1st, 2011|Animal News Stories, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Thylacine Not a Sheep Killer – No “Jaws” for Alarm

The Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus) became extinct in 1936 when the last known living specimen died at Hobart Zoo. Scientists believe that the Thylacine had been extinct in mainland Australia for some 2,000 years but populations survived in remote parts of Tasmania up until the early 20th Century. One of the reasons given for this apex predator’s decline was that it was hunted extensively by farmers and land owners in a bid to reduce attacks on their sheep.

Tasmanian Tiger

However, the Thylacine may have been wrongly accused of killing sheep, a new study published in the Zoological Society of London’s “Journal of Zoology” has found that the “tiger” had such weak jaws that its prey was probably no larger than a possum.

Lead author, Marie Attard of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Computational Biomechanics Research Group stated:

“Our research has shown that its rather feeble jaw restricted it to catching smaller, more agile prey. That’s an unusual trait for a large predator like that, considering its substantial 30 kg body mass and carnivorous diet. As for its supposed ability to take prey as large as sheep, our findings suggest that its reputation was a bit overblown.”

The Thylacine, otherwise known as the “Tasmanian Tiger” was probably a hunter of much smaller prey, other marsupials and flightless birds being cited as typical prey examples, but not the introduced livestock such as sheep, goats and young cattle. A generous bounty was paid for every dead Thylacine and this hunting and trapping led to the rapid extinction of an animal population that was already under considerable stress due to loss of habitat and indigenous prey.

Author Marie Attard with a Thylacine Jaw

Picture credit: Marie Attard

The picture shows Marie holding the skull of a Thylacine, note the wide gape of this predators jaws.

Marie added:

“While there is still much debate about its diet and feeding behaviour, this new insight suggests that its inability to kill large prey may have hastened it on the road to extinction.”

Despite its obvious decline, it did not receive official protection from the Tasmanian Government until two months before the last known individual died (the Hobart Zoo Thylacine).

Advanced Computer Modelling Techniques

Using advanced computer modelling techniques, the UNSW research team were able to simulate various predatory behaviours, including biting, tearing and pulling, to predict patterns of stress in the skull of a Thylacine and those of Australasia’s two largest remaining marsupial carnivores, the Tasmanian devil and the spotted-tailed quoll.

The Thylacine’s skull was highly stressed compared to those of its close living relatives in response to simulations of struggling prey and bites using their jaw muscles. This indicates that tackling sheep was not on the Thylacine’s menu – the fear of a “tiger” attacking a flock of sheep would be unfounded. There would be no “jaws” for alarm.

A Computer Generated Image Showing the Stress Levels on Thylacine Jaws

Could not think of a snappy title.

Picture credit: Marie Attard

The picture shows the digital stress tests revealing weakness (red/white areas in right-hand image) in the Thylacine jaw.

Director of UNSW’s Computational Biomechanics Research Group, Dr Stephen Wroe stated:

“By comparing the skull performance of the extinct Thylacine with those of closely related, living species we can predict the likely body size of its prey. We can be pretty sure that Thylacines were competing with other marsupial carnivores to prey on smaller mammals, such as bandicoots, wallabies and possums.”

A Stuffed Tasmanian Tiger on Display in a Museum

A Thylacine on display (Tasmanian Tiger).

A Thylacine is included in the Australian mammals part of the gallery (Senckenberg Museum). Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

It seems that the bounty on the Thylacine may have been unjustified, a case of “shoot first and think later” as a member of the Everything Dinosaur team commented.

Dr Wroe added:

“Especially among large predators, the more specialised a species becomes the more vulnerable is it to extinction. Just a small disturbance to the ecosystem, such as those resulting from the way European settlers altered the land, may have been enough to tip this delicately poised species over the edge.”

The Hobart specimen died on September 7th 1936, this date is commemorated in Australia as the National Threatened Species Day, helping to highlight the plight of other endangered species on the continent. Ironically, there are from time to time reports of sightings of Thylacine-like animals both on the Australian mainland and in Tasmania. Many cryptozoologists believe that small populations of this pouched predator may still survive in remote parts of the Australian outback. A few fuzzy photographs and 8mm film footage exist, taken by people who claim to have seen a strange animal, but as yet there has been no real evidence to suggest that the Thylacine is still with us.

To view models of extinct animals: CollectA Popular Range of Prehistoric Animal Models.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a University of New South Wales media release in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “Skull mechanics and implications for feeding behaviour in a large marsupial carnivore guild: the thylacine, Tasmanian devil and spotted-tailed quoll” by M.R.G. Attard, U. Chamoli, T.L. Ferrara, T.L. Roger and S. Wroe published in the Journal of Zoology.

25 08, 2011

We are Amongst an Amazing 8.7 million Species – Give or Take a Million

By Mike|2024-04-22T11:52:07+01:00August 25th, 2011|Animal News Stories, Educational Activities, Main Page|0 Comments

New Estimate for the Number of Species on Planet Earth

It was the Swedish physician and naturalist Carolus Linnaeus (1707 – 1778), who formed the basis for the classification of organisms in his Systema naturae, first published in 1735. He grouped organisms with shared features and characteristics into different sets, creating an interrelated hierarchy of life, sometimes referred to as a “tree of life” as a result of its branching structure. The basic unit in this classification is the species. A species is defined as a group of organisms whose members have the potential to breed together and produce fertile offspring. Species are grouped into genera, genera into sub-families, families and so on.

Number of Species

Families are grouped into orders, for example our species Homo sapiens is classified with apes, monkeys into the primates (order). Orders themselves are grouped into classes, and these in turn are grouped into phyla. Members of different phyla differ in fundamental features such as body organisation and methods of locomotion and respiration. Phyla are finally grouped into the largest commonly used classification a kingdom, such as the kingdom plantae (plants) and animalia (animals).

Scientists have argued ever since the time of Linnaeus as to just how many species there are on our planet. Back in 1975, I recall reading a paper that estimated (conservatively as it turned out) that there were around one million species of insect on the Earth, other estimates have been made over the years using a variety of techniques and the total number of individual species estimated has varied widely, with as many as 100 million species being cited in some literature.

Not knowing how many species inhabit the Earth is one of the most fundamental questions in science. Efforts to sample the world’s biodiversity to date have been limited and thus have precluded direct quantification of global species richness, and because indirect estimates rely on assumptions that have proven highly controversial. However, a group of international scientists have used the basis of the classification system first devised by Linnaeus to propose a new calculation for the number of species. This team calculates that we humans are amongst 8.7 million other species (plus or minus 1.3 million).

In a paper published in the online scientific journal PLoS Biology (Public Library of Science), the team state that the higher taxonomic classification of species (i.e. the assignment of species to phylum, class, order, family, and genus) follows a consistent and predictable pattern from which the total number of species in a taxonomic group can be estimated. Their work was validated against well-known taxa, and when applied to all domains of life, it predicted 8.7 million species in total with a margin for error of +/- 1.3 million eukaryotic species globally (with a nucleus in the cell). Seventy percent of our planet’s surface may be covered by sea water, but according to these new calculations there are only 2.2 million species present in the sea.

The Diversity of Planet Earth

The researchers including scientists from the Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, the Department of Geography, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, and the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom, in conjunction with Microsoft research propose that some 86% of the species on Earth and 91% in the ocean, still await description.

Co-author Boris Worm of Dalhousie University stated that the recently-updated Red List issued by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature assessed 59,508 species, of which 19,625 are classified as threatened. This means the IUCN Red List, the most sophisticated ongoing study of its kind, monitors less than 1% of world species.

Our Planet’s Complex Biodiversity

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

It is important that scientists have an understanding of the biodiversity of planet Earth as without this, it would be very difficult to establish the current rate of extinction. Many scientists believe that species are dying out at an alarming rate. In what is known as the sixth mass extinction event, it has been estimated that as many as three species an hour are becoming extinct – many of these organisms are unknown to science.

To read Everything Dinosaur’s recent blog post about discovery of a new eel species: Primitive Eel Discovery “A Fishy Tale”.

As co-author of the study, Boris Worm of Dalhousie University points out:

“If we didn’t know – even by an order of magnitude (1m? 10m? 100m?) – the number of people in a nation, how would we plan for the future? At its most basic, if we don’t know what we’ve got, we can’t protect it, and we can’t even be sure what we’re losing.”

For models and replicas of prehistoric and extinct creatures: Mojo Fun Prehistoric Life Models.

24 08, 2011

Which was the Largest Crocodile of All Time?

By Mike|2023-03-08T13:52:40+00:00August 24th, 2011|Animal News Stories, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page, Press Releases|35 Comments

Sarcosuchus, Purussaurus, Deinosuchus or Any Other Candidate?

With a Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) at an animal park in Queensland (Australia), being recognised as the largest crocodile kept in captivity, team members at Everything Dinosaur started a debate amongst themselves as to which was the largest crocodilian known from the fossil record.

Largest Crocodile Ever

Crocodiles are certainly an ancient group of reptiles, with their origins predating the dinosaurs. However, which of these animals would be classified as the largest – this might be difficult to say.

A few days ago, we reported that Cassius, an eighteen foot long “Salty” had been declared the largest crocodile in captivity by the Guinness Book of Records.

To read more about Cassius: Record Breaking Monster Crocodile.

However, a number of extinct types of crocodile are known to be much larger. Indeed, having checked with the Guinness Book of Records, the largest prehistoric crocodile (according to them), is Sarcosuchus (Sarcosuchus imperator), a member of the Eusuchia, fossils of this crocodile are known from Cretaceous strata from Niger (Africa). Although, there is a lack of fossil material, estimates of length provide a consensus that this reptile may have been ten to twelve metres long.

It has been suggested that this fearsome predator may have weighed eight tonnes. This would make Sarcosuchus (flesh crocodile) a contender for the largest type of crocodile known.

A Model of the Prehistoric Crocodile Sarcosuchus

2020 Wild Safari Prehistoric World Sarcosuchus.

Wild Safari Prehistoric World Sarcosuchus model.

Then there is the much more recent, South American, giant Purussaurus (Purussaurus brasiliensis). This prehistoric caiman is known from a number of fossil locations in South America (Brazil, Peru and Venezuela). An expedition to the Peruvian Amazon back in 2005 discovered more fossils and from one particular skull, which measures over fifty-five inches in length, it has been estimated that this caiman from the Miocene may have reached lengths of between ten and thirteen metres. We think this member of the crocodile family is also known as Mourasuchus amazoniensis, but this is regarded as a junior synonym.

Deinosuchus

There is also Deinosuchus (Terrible Crocodile) to consider. Deinosuchus (D. hatcheri) lived during the Late Cretaceous. Its fossils have been found in the United States. Once again size estimates are difficult to affirm. When looking at extant species today, the head length can be assessed as being approximately one eighth the size of the entire animal measured from the tip of its snout to its tail.

This is a useful guide when trying to work out the size of a crocodile or alligator when it it swimming and only a portion of the head is above the water. Using measurements taken from a huge, nearly complete skull, found in the Big Bend River formation, Texas, and described by the scientists Colbert and Bird back in the 1950s, Deinosuchus was estimated to be over fifteen metres long and to weigh in excess of eight Tonnes. Since then further analysis of fossil fragments, bones and dermal armour (scutes) has been undertaken and palaeontologists now estimate Deinosuchus to be a little smaller, but it is still a contender for the largest croc of all time.

The jaws are more robust than those of Sarcosuchus, suggesting that Deinosuchus predated upon large animals, perhaps attacking dinosaurs as they came close to water to get a drink.

Which was the Largest Crocodile?

One for the Guinness Book of Records to contemplate.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Team members at Everything Dinosaur have had a go at producing art materials and drawings to illustrate the likely candidates for the title of largest crocodile known to science.

Recently, a group of scientists published a paper detailing their study of suspected Deinosuchus coprolites (fossilised dung), thus providing a potential insight into this reptile’s diet:

To read more about Deinosuchus and a follow up article: Ancient Crocodile Poop Provides Information on the Diet of Deinosuchus.

Update on Deinosuchus: Update on the Diet of Cretaceous Crocodiles.

The crocodiles are indeed an ancient group of reptiles, they evolved into a myriad of forms, some of these were gigantic but as to which genus was the biggest – it looks like we will be debating this for some time.

For models and replicas of prehistoric animals including many models of extinct animals from the crocodilian line of the Archosauria: Ancient Crocodiles and Prehistoric Animal Models.

21 08, 2011

Monster Crocodile Recognised as the Largest in Captivity

By Mike|2023-03-08T12:36:40+00:00August 21st, 2011|Animal News Stories, Main Page|1 Comment

Cassius to Enter Guinness Book of Records

An enormous Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) which measures a fraction under eighteen feet in length has been officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest crocodile in captivity. The fearsome croc, known as Cassius is a resident at Marineland Melanesia on Green Island off the coast of Cairns (northern Queensland, Australia).

The monster crocodile, believed to be over 100 years old has been in captivity since it was brought to the marine park back in 1987, having been captured in the wild near to Darwin a few years earlier. It was captured as it had attacked a number of boats in the Darwin area and it was thought to be too big and dangerous to be left at large.

Monster Crocodile

Saltwater crocodiles are man-eaters and are responsible for a number of fatal attacks on people each year. Despite his great size, Cassius can stay hidden in just eighteen inches of muddy water, ready to explode out of the water to catch his prey. These reptile ambush specialists are extremely dangerous and we at Everything Dinosaur have reported upon a number of Saltwater crocodile attacks in recent months. From the various slide marks and tail drags left in northern territory river banks and mud flats, some tourist guides believe that in the wild there may be one or two “Salties” that are in excess of twenty feet long.

The Difference Between a Crocodile and an Alligator

Crocodile (top) and Alligator (bottom).

The Largest Crocodile Ever

Guinness World Records also recognised the world record for the largest crocodile ever, set by Sarcosuchus imperator, which was a prehistoric species of crocodile which lived around 110 million years ago.

Recent fossilised remains found in the Sahara Desert suggest that this creature took around 50-60 years to grow to its full length of around 11-12 metres (37-40 ft) and its maximum weight of around 8 tonnes. This is likely to prove controversial to palaeontologists as many would suggest that Deinosuchus (Deinosuchus hatcheri), a huge prehistoric crocodile from the Late Cretaceous of the United States, would have been bigger, certainly heavier. Other scientists may argue that the Miocene crocodile Purussaurus (Purussaurus brasiliensis), known from fossils found in Brazil, Peru and Venezuela could be a contender.

To read an article about Sarcosuchus: Introducing Sarcosuchus.

Cassius the Crocodile

Cassius bears the scars from his battles with other crocs during his younger days, and has lost his left arm. But at times, the giant reptile has shown a softer side.

Marineland crocodile keeper Toody Scott stated:

“He has shown a bit of an affectionate side with some of the younger female crocs we’ve introduced to him.”

But as we know from bitter experience, never trust a crocodile, they are always looking for an opportunity to attack.

“He’s a very wise croc, very good at pretending that he is nice and gentle; added Mr Scott.

“He can very much lull you into a false sense of security, which is what crocodiles are very good at doing. I wouldn’t trust him for a second.”

We agree, crocodiles and people do not mix, best to leave them alone or at least only view the likes of Cassius from behind the safety of the bars on his enclosure.

To view models of prehistoric crocodiles, dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, take a look at the Mojo Fun prehistoric model range: Mojo Fun Prehistoric Animal Models.

20 08, 2011

Walrus Causes Mammoth Confusion

By Mike|2023-01-20T17:05:37+00:00August 20th, 2011|Animal News Stories, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Fossil Walrus Skull Causes Mammoth Alert

Lennon and McCartney may have written a song called “I am the Walrus” with the opening line “I am he as you are he as you are and we are all together”, but the Beatles could not have imagined that Russian authorities could have mixed up a fossil Walrus skull with a Woolly Mammoth fossil but that is what is being reported in on-line media this morning.

Fossil Walrus Skull

According to a number of news sources there was much excitement in Russian scientific circles when it was reported that a reindeer herder had found a perfectly preserved, fossilised baby Woolly Mammoth. Woolly Mammoth tusks and other isolated fossils are frequently found in the Siberian Summer as ancient remains of these long dead elephants are washed out of melting permafrost. To find a baby, a Woolly Mammoth calf, even a few articulated fossils would be an extremely significant discovery. Back in the Summer of 2007, as reported by the Everything Dinosaur web log, Russian scientists were able to extract the deep-frozen remains of a one month old baby Woolly Mammoth which had been almost perfectly preserved. This Woolly Mammoth, affectionately dubbed Lyuba is now part of a touring Mammoth and Mastodon Exhibition organised by the Chicago Museum. This exhibition is due to arrive in the UK in 2013.

To read more about the discovery of Lyuba: New Baby Woolly Mammoth Found.

It was initially claimed that the find was as well preserved as Lyuba. Believed to have died around 40,000 years ago, Lyuba is the best preserved Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) known to science. Authorities in the Yamalo-Nenets region said yesterday morning they were scrambling a helicopter to the location. With the high Summer melt well underway, any flesh that has thawed will start to rot and therefore the Russian authorities were in a race against time to reach this remote location.

A spokesperson for the scientists, scrambled to reach the carcase stated:

“If what is said about how it is preserved turns out to be true, this will be another sensation of global significance.”

However, the scientists and researchers were to be disappointed, as when examined the fossil turned out to be that of a Walrus. Leader of the Woolly Mammoth rescue mission Ms Fyordorova commented:

“It turned out to be a walrus skull; apparently a fossilised one. It’s still a good present for us. We don’t have any walruses yet.”

It may not be a Mammoth, but the fossilised remains of an ancient Walrus could provide the researchers with valuable information as to how the region has changed over thousands of years.

Better luck next time, as the Beatles sang “I am the Walrus, goo goo g’joob”.

To view a soft toy Woolly Mammoth soft toys and other prehistoric plush: Woolly Mammoth and Ice Age Soft Toys.

18 08, 2011

Jawbone Suggests Giant Birds May have Lived Alongside the Dinosaurs (According to New Research)

By Mike|2024-04-22T11:52:41+01:00August 18th, 2011|Animal News Stories, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

New Fossil Discovery Suggests Giant Birds Lived During the Mesozoic

Most scientists now agree that the birds (Aves) are descended from a particular group of dinosaurs – theropods, but the accepted view that birds were small, crow-sized creatures living very much in the shadow of their reptilian cousins has been challenged once again with the discovery of a single jawbone fragment. This fossil suggests that giant prehistoric birds, the size of the largest bird living today (Ostrich), could have roamed amongst the dinosaurs during the Late Cretaceous.

Giant Prehistoric Birds

Ironically, the fossil languished in a museum collection before its significance was recognised, as we at Everything Dinosaur know from experience, sometimes an animal new to science can be found within a museum’s collection. Either the key, holotype fossils have been incorrectly assigned to an already known species or in many cases the importance of the fossil is simply not recognised. Even new dinosaur species can be found lurking inside museum cabinets and collections.

To read an article on discovery dinosaurs inside museums: The Best Place to Find a New Dinosaur Inside a Museum.

Two lengths of bone were uncovered at a dig site in southern Kazakhstan (Kyzylorda district) by a joint Soviet-East German scientific expedition in the 1970s. The fossil fragments were carefully prepared and put together to make a jaw almost thirty centimetres in length but the significance of the fossil was not recognised. It was the property of a German collector for a number of years and then went on display in a Belgian museum.

Scientists Study Fossil

Fossils come from strata associated with the Bostobynskaya Formation (also known as the Bostobe Formation). It has been dated to the Late Cretaceous approximately 85 million years ago. The team of scientists, including Gareth Dyke from University College Dublin, dissolved away the plaster and glue that had been used to prepare the fossil fragments in the 1970s to reveal the true fossil bone.

The research paper co-authored by scientists from University College, Dublin, University of Portsmouth, Museo Geologico e Paleontologico (Bologna) plus contributions from French and Belgium based researchers has been published in the scientific journal “Biology Letters”.

Dr Dyke commented:

“This is one of the largest birds that’s ever been described of any age. We don’t have much of it, but we know the lower jaw is at least as big if not bigger than the Ostrich lower jaw. At the age it is, it’s pretty exciting.”

Although, the toothless jawbone indicates a member of the Aves, some scientists have proposed that the specimen could represent a member of the Dinosauria, after all, toothless dinosaurs with beaks are known from the Late Cretaceous fossil record and a number of different types of dinosaur do have a number of anatomical features that closely resemble those of extant birds – dinosaurs such as members of the Oviraptorosauria, ornithomimids and Alvarezsauria for instance.

Giant Size in the Aves

Images show two possible body plans for S. nessovi, firstly that of a flightless bird such as an extant Emu or Ostrich, secondly, as a bird capable of flight. The human figure (looking remarkably like the statue of David by Michelangelo), provides scale. The small bird in the diagram represents the size of a typical Late Cretaceous flying bird as known from other fossil material found in Asia.

Dr Dyke added:

“We have always assumed that giant size in birds was something that evolved relatively late in the history of the group, so to find a specimen so early is remarkable. This is a giant of a bird with no teeth from the Late Cretaceous.”

The world of fossilised birds has been subject to a number of seismic shocks recently. For example, Chinese scientists have reported that the iconic fossil of Archaeopteryx (A. lithographica) may not actually represent a bird at all. These scientists have postulated that Archaeopteryx may be a feathered, cursorial theropod.

To read more about this issue: Is Archaeopteryx about to be Knocked off Its Perch?

Samrukia nessovi

The fossil has been ascribed to the Aves and it has been formally named Samrukia nessovi. This creature is named after a mythological phoenix-like bird from local legend – the Samruk. The specific name honours Lev Nessov, an eccentric Russian palaeontologist who used to take the bus or train from St Petersburg into Central Asia to embark on long hikes into the desert to hunt for fossils. He committed suicide in 1995 at the age of 48 after the breakup of the Soviet Union restricted his travels.

The researchers are unsure as to whether S. nessovi was flightless or not. Based on measurements from the single fossil jaw, they have estimated that if it had the same body shape as an Ostrich, it would have stood between two and three metres tall. If it resembled an Albatross it would have had a wingspan of over four metres. Unfortunately, with only one fossil specimen to work with it is impossible to say much more about this creature.

Giant Birds of the Cretaceous

The fossil is only the second giant, land-living bird species to be discovered in Cretaceous-aged rocks and the first to be found in Asia. A previously recognised species, Gargantuavis philoinos, was named in 1998 from France but experts have argued over its identification. If Samrukia nessovi is a bird as scientists suggest the new, Kazakh specimen would help confirm the presence of giant prehistoric birds in the Cretaceous period.

Dr Darren Naish, an eminent palaeontologist from the University of Portsmouth, said that the creature provides significant new information on life in Cretaceous times.

He stated:

“Since the 1850s we’ve known that numerous bird species lived during the age of the dinosaurs (known as the Mesozoic Era), but virtually all were crow-sized or smaller. The Ostrich-sized Gargantuavis from France is the one notable exception and now this new Mesozoic bird from Kazakhstan – known only from its toothless lower jaw – shows that gigantic birds also lived in Cretaceous Central Asia.”

Although unsure whether or not this bird was flightless or whether it took to the skies, Dr Naish added:

“We can now be really confident that Mesozoic terrestrial birds weren’t all thrush-sized or crow-sized animals, giant size definitely evolved in these animals and giant forms were living in at least two distinct regions. This fits into a larger, emerging picture that Mesozoic birds were ecologically diverse, with lots of overlap between them and modern groups.”

Dr Naish concluded:

“The fragmentary nature of our Samrukia specimen will always mean that some people have doubts about it, but specialists who have seen the remains agree with our interpretation. The French Gargantuavis has already demonstrated the presence of giant Cretaceous birds and we argue that Samrukia adds a second example and increases the significance of Gargantuavis since it shows that it wasn’t a one off.”

Unfortunately, the absence of other fossil material prevents the scientists from finding out much more about this creature that is new to science. They can only speculate on what it ate for instance. Did S. nessovi hunt small dinosaurs, or was it an omnivore perhaps? Just how big was this giant prehistoric bird?

Dr Naish commented:

“We have only the lower jaw, and this doesn’t provide key information on what the whole bird was like. Hopefully new material will be unearthed to provide us with more information, such as understanding what role it was playing in Cretaceous ecosystems. We do know that the fossil came from a floodplain environment. This would have been a large flattish plain, criss-crossed by big, meandering rivers. Fossil wood shows that forests were present nearby and aquatic animals indicate the continual presence of lakes, pools or big rivers.”

Dr Naish added:

“Samrukia was conceivably in danger from tyrannosaurs, dromaeosaurs and other predatory dinosaurs that occurred in the same region but we can’t say whether Samrukia itself was predatory, herbivorous or omnivorous as the lower jaws don’t reveal any obvious specialisations for, say, dedicated plant-eating or feeding on aquatic prey.”

Giant Prehistoric Birds Alongside the Dinosaurs

Hopefully, new fossil finds will help scientists to piece together (literally), more information about this strange creature from the Late Cretaceous. If more fossil material is found, then scientists may be able to confirm that Samrukia nessovi is a bird to resolve the puzzle of whether or not it could fly and what it ate.

Dr Naish concluded:

“People tend to forget that birds co-existed with their dinosaurian relatives but it now seems that the Cretaceous was not a ‘dinosaurs-only theme park.’ This find confirms that large birds were living alongside dinosaurs and may have been more widespread than previously thought.”

For models and replicas of Late Cretaceous prehistoric animals: Wild Safari Prehistoric Animal Models and Figures.

9 08, 2011

Baby Frogs Leaving the Office Pond

By Mike|2023-03-08T12:53:43+00:00August 9th, 2011|Animal News Stories, Main Page|1 Comment

Frogs Start Their Exodus

Over the last few days we have observed a number of tiny frogs in and around the office pond. Although tadpoles have been difficult to spot we were confident that a number of tadpoles had been able to survive long enough to complete their metamorphosis into frogs. We expect that over the next few days these tiny creatures, most measuring about a centimetre in length will make their way out of the pond and disperse around the yard and the surrounding area.

Office Pond

We are not sure whether this year’s frogs should be referred to as froglets. However, it is always pleasing to see these creatures complete the change from fully aquatic tadpole to amphibian. Occasionally, we come across small frogs around the office buildings, we think that these are survivors from 2010.

To read our earlier post about the first frogspawn spotted in the office pond: First Frogspawn Spotted in the Pond.

Interestingly, when we look back at our records and previous web log articles, we note that frogs had been observed leaving the pond earlier in previous years. There may be a number of reasons for this. Firstly, the relatively poor Summer with lots of rain may have kept the water temperature lower than the seasonal norm and this may have slowed the tadpoles development. Perhaps the poor Summer weather resulted in less food available and this too, would have inhibited the tadpoles growth. It could also be that we have simply not observed the frogs leaving as we did last year.

When working late yesterday evening, a went out with a torch to see what I could see in the yard by the pond. It was raining and as we know from experience frogs seem to be more active in rain then when it is dry. I counted three frogs within the vicinity of the pond, all of them were large so these were not from this year’s hatch. Perhaps as the froglets are so small, I just did not see them, so this too could account for the lack of young frog observations outside the pond area.

A Fuzzy Picture of One of Last Years (2010) Frogs

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Our records show that young frogs started to leave the pond in the middle of July back in 2009 and last year. We have yet to observe one of this year’s tadpoles having left the pond as a fully formed adult, outside the immediate pond area.

For models and replicas of ancient tetrapods including prehistoric amphibians: CollectA Deluxe Ancient Tetrapods and Prehistoric Animals.