fossil

Specimen nature

371 image(s) · 183 News

Image gallery

Permineralized Jurassic fern rhizome from Korsaröd (Sweden) of Osmundastrum pulchellum. It has preserved Nuclei and Chromosomes, a fine subcellular detail has rarely been documented in fossils. It´s Rooted in DNA content was used to extrapolate relative genome, finding relationships with extant Osmundastrum cinnamomeum, and confirmed a monophyletic Osmunda. Osmundastrum pulchellum is one of the earliest fossil Osmundastrum rhizomes known so far, and the first of its kind from the Mesozoic of Europe. Its impressive preservation has lead to know even the biotic interactions with the Plant. It also has recovered the only know case know to preserve the ongoing mitosis processes in plant cells via calcification from volcanic hydrothermal brine.

Permineralized Jurassic fern rhizome from Korsaröd (Sweden) of Osmundastrum pulchellum. It has preserved Nuclei and Chromosomes, a fine subcellular detail has rarely been documented in fossils. It´s Rooted in DNA content was used to extrapolate relative genome, finding relationships with extant Osmundastrum cinnamomeum, and confirmed a monophyletic Osmunda. Osmundastrum pulchellum is one of the earliest fossil Osmundastrum rhizomes known so far, and the first of its kind from the Mesozoic of Europe. Its impressive preservation has lead to know even the biotic interactions with the Plant. It also has recovered the only know case know to preserve the ongoing mitosis processes in plant cells via calcification from volcanic hydrothermal brine.

DNA Sweden Jurassic Mesozoic +1
Reprodução a partir da gravura original do Holótipo, Hybodus acutus Agassiz, 1837, na publicação e prancha: L. Agassiz. 1837. Recherches sur les poissons fossiles Vol.3 (Atlas); Tab 10

Reprodução a partir da gravura original do Holótipo, Hybodus acutus Agassiz, 1837, na publicação e prancha: L. Agassiz. 1837. Recherches sur les poissons fossiles Vol.3 (Atlas); Tab 10

fossil fish
Graph of relative Dinosaur fossil populations from each period of geologic time in the Mesozoic, ordered by major clade

Graph of relative Dinosaur fossil populations from each period of geologic time in the Mesozoic, ordered by major clade

Mesozoic fossil Dinosauria
Fossil of the Decapod Cycleryon

Fossil of the Decapod Cycleryon

fossil
Fig 2. Geological section of the “Mittlerer Kimmeridge”.
This figure is based on Fischer and modified from Lallensack et al. Beds yielding terrestrial fossils are listed.

Fig 2. Geological section of the “Mittlerer Kimmeridge”. This figure is based on Fischer and modified from Lallensack et al. Beds yielding terrestrial fossils are listed.

fossil
Fossil shell of Aulacostephanus yo from France, on display at Gallery of Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy, Paris.
Intervals Kimmeridgian

Fossil shell of Aulacostephanus yo from France, on display at Gallery of Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy, Paris.

France fossil anatomy
The GSSP for the Hirnantian stage in the ICS geological timescale (uppermost Ordovician stage), located in the Wangjiawan profile (an outcrop of black shale, brownishly weathered siliceous shale and chert layers of the Wufeng Formation) along the G241 road, about 40 km north of Yichang, Hubei, China. An exact golden spike is missing in the profile (2025) but a memorial plague marks the place. The GSSP occurs at the first appearance of fossils of the graptolite species Normalograptus extraordinarius. It was ratified in 2006.

The GSSP for the Hirnantian stage in the ICS geological timescale (uppermost Ordovician stage), located in the Wangjiawan profile (an outcrop of black shale, brownishly weathered siliceous shale and chert layers of the Wufeng Formation) along the G241 road, about 40 km north of Yichang, Hubei, China. An exact golden spike is missing in the profile (2025) but a memorial plague marks the place. The GSSP occurs at the first appearance of fossils of the graptolite species Normalograptus extraordinarius. It was ratified in 2006.

China Hirnantian Ordovician fossil +1
Crioceratites fabreae fossils on display at the French National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France.

Crioceratites fabreae fossils on display at the French National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France.

museum France fossil
Crioceratites duvali fossil on display at the French National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France.

Crioceratites duvali fossil on display at the French National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France.

museum France fossil
“Sternberger Kuchen” (“Sternberg cake”), a large late Pleistocene glaciofluvial pebble of a highly fossiliferous, shallow marine sandstone of the North German Paleogene (Sülstorf beds, formerly known as “Sternberg rock”, Chattian, Oligocene, about 25 million years old). The fossil content is mainly made up of mollusks (pelecypods, gastropods, scaphopods). Provenance: Sternberg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Northeast Germany.

“Sternberger Kuchen” (“Sternberg cake”), a large late Pleistocene glaciofluvial pebble of a highly fossiliferous, shallow marine sandstone of the North German Paleogene (Sülstorf beds, formerly known as “Sternberg rock”, Chattian, Oligocene, about 25 million years old). The fossil content is mainly made up of mollusks (pelecypods, gastropods, scaphopods). Provenance: Sternberg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Northeast Germany.

Germany Chattian Late Pleistocene Oligocene +3
Fossil of Cainotherium, an extinct mammal https://hdl.handle.net/21.12123/66925 in ferruginous rock of Oligocene (Chattian) age from Ingolstadt in Bavaria, Germany - Took the photo at Museon museum, Den Haag
Intervals Chattian

Fossil of Cainotherium, an extinct mammal https://hdl.handle.net/21.12123/66925 in ferruginous rock of Oligocene (Chattian) age from Ingolstadt in Bavaria, Germany - Took the photo at Museon museum, Den Haag

museum Germany Chattian Oligocene +1
A fossil tree from the Coal Creek region, Fruitland Formation, latest Cretaceous (Late Campanian), San Juan Basin, New Mexico

A fossil tree from the Coal Creek region, Fruitland Formation, latest Cretaceous (Late Campanian), San Juan Basin, New Mexico

Mexico Fruitland Campanian Cretaceous +2
Glyptostrobus europaeus fossil leaves of Burdigalian stage in the early Miocene epoch, from a brown coal mine in Bilina, Czech Republic.

Glyptostrobus europaeus fossil leaves of Burdigalian stage in the early Miocene epoch, from a brown coal mine in Bilina, Czech Republic.

Czech Republic Burdigalian Miocene fossil
Brachipotherium aurelianense, from Rubí. Fossils. Collection of paleontology of the Geological Museum of the Barcelona Seminari (Museu Geològic del Seminari de Barcelona).

Brachipotherium aurelianense, from Rubí. Fossils. Collection of paleontology of the Geological Museum of the Barcelona Seminari (Museu Geològic del Seminari de Barcelona).

museum fossil
Ficus truncata fossil leaf from the early Miocene epoch 20 Ma, of the Třetihorní flóra from Bílina, Czech Republic.

Ficus truncata fossil leaf from the early Miocene epoch 20 Ma, of the Třetihorní flóra from Bílina, Czech Republic.

Czech Republic Miocene fossil
Comptonia acutiloba fossil leaves from the early Miocene epoch 20 Ma, of the Třetihorní flóra from Bílina, Czech Republic.

Comptonia acutiloba fossil leaves from the early Miocene epoch 20 Ma, of the Třetihorní flóra from Bílina, Czech Republic.

Czech Republic Miocene fossil
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

News

Ancient long snouted croc from Egypt rewrites evolution
hunting predator Egypt fossil specimen discovery evolution
A newly identified crocodile relative from Egypt pushes back the origins of the marine-hunting dyrosaurids by millions of years. The fossil, Wadisuchus kassabi, shows a mix of primitive and advanced traits that mark a key evolutionary transition. Rare specimens of different ages reveal how these ancient predators developed. The find reinforces Africa as the center of early dyrosaurid evolution.
01/12/2025 sciencedaily
242-million-year-old mini predator changes lizard evolution
limb tooth predator fossil evolution new species skull
A tiny 242-million-year-old fossil from Devon is shaking up scientists’ assumptions about the earliest members of the lizard lineage. Instead of the expected skull hinges and palate teeth typical of modern lizards and snakes, this ancient creature shows a surprising mix of primitive and unusual traits—along with strikingly large, blade-like teeth. High-resolution synchrotron scans revealed details invisible to the naked eye, helping researchers name the new species Agriodontosaurus helsbypetrae
30/11/2025 sciencedaily
Scientists find a surprising link between lead and human evolution
tooth fossil evolution genetics
Researchers found that ancient hominids—including early humans—were exposed to lead throughout childhood, leaving chemical traces in fossil teeth. Experiments suggest this exposure may have driven genetic changes that strengthened language-related brain functions in modern humans.
16/11/2025 sciencedaily-human-evo
2 million-year-old teeth reveal secrets from the dawn of humanity
jaw tooth protein fossil genetics
For decades, Paranthropus robustus has intrigued scientists as a powerful, big-jawed cousin of early humans. Now, thanks to ancient protein analysis, researchers have cracked open new secrets hidden in 2-million-year-old tooth enamel. These proteins revealed both sex and subtle genetic differences among fossils, suggesting Paranthropus might not have been one species but a more complex evolutionary mix.
01/11/2025 sciencedaily-human-evo
Who were the mystery humans behind Indonesia’s million-year-old tools?
migration Indonesia fossil discovery evolution
A groundbreaking discovery on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi reveals that early hominins crossed treacherous seas over a million years ago, leaving behind stone tools that reshape our understanding of ancient migration. These findings, older than previous evidence in the region, highlight Sulawesi as a critical piece of the puzzle in human evolution. Yet, the absence of fossils keeps the identity of these tool-makers shrouded in mystery, sparking new questions about whether they were Homo ere
10/09/2025 sciencedaily-human-evo
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37