fossil

Specimen nature

371 image(s) · 183 News

Image gallery

A hypothetical life restoration of Ampelosaurus atacis

• Ampelosaurus is known from hundreds of fossil specimens which show most of the dinosaur's osteological details, however, there are few articulated remains or reconstructions of the material so its overall proportions and life appearance are uncertain.
• Ampelosaurus is known to have supported osteoderms, only four are currently known. The number of these osteoderms that an individual Ampelosaurus would have supported in life and their and position on the body is not currently known. It's thought that due to the rarity of titanosaur osteoderms that they would be quite sparse on the body. The position and layout of the osteoderms has been loosely based on this interpretation, which is based on the work of Vidal et al 2015. [1]
Taxa Dashanpusaurus

A hypothetical life restoration of Ampelosaurus atacis • Ampelosaurus is known from hundreds of fossil specimens which show most of the dinosaur's osteological details, however, there are few articulated remains or reconstructions of the material so its overall proportions and life appearance are uncertain. • Ampelosaurus is known to have supported osteoderms, only four are currently known. The number of these osteoderms that an individual Ampelosaurus would have supported in life and their and position on the body is not currently known. It's thought that due to the rarity of titanosaur osteoderms that they would be quite sparse on the body. The position and layout of the osteoderms has been loosely based on this interpretation, which is based on the work of Vidal et al 2015. [1]

fossil specimen Ampelosaurus Bagualosauria +6
Lower Triassic fossil footprint (ichnite) of the ichnogenus Chirotherium, probably caused by an early archosaur, and first discovered 1833 in Hildburghausen (Thuringia, Germany). This specimen, however, ist from the Helsby Sandstone of the Storeton Quarry near Liverpool. Its species name is Chirotherium storetonense.[1]
Taxa Abelichnus

Lower Triassic fossil footprint (ichnite) of the ichnogenus Chirotherium, probably caused by an early archosaur, and first discovered 1833 in Hildburghausen (Thuringia, Germany). This specimen, however, ist from the Helsby Sandstone of the Storeton Quarry near Liverpool. Its species name is Chirotherium storetonense.[1]

Germany Triassic fossil specimen +9
Lower Triassic fossil footprint (ichnite) of the ichnogenus Chirotherium, probably caused by an early archosaur, and first discovered 1833 in Hildburghausen (Thuringia, Germany). This specimen, however, ist from the Helsby Sandstone of the Storeton Quarry near Liverpool. Its species name is Chirotherium storetonense.[1]
Taxa Anticheiropus

Lower Triassic fossil footprint (ichnite) of the ichnogenus Chirotherium, probably caused by an early archosaur, and first discovered 1833 in Hildburghausen (Thuringia, Germany). This specimen, however, ist from the Helsby Sandstone of the Storeton Quarry near Liverpool. Its species name is Chirotherium storetonense.[1]

Germany Triassic fossil specimen +9
Lower Triassic fossil footprint (ichnite) of the ichnogenus Chirotherium, probably caused by an early archosaur, and first discovered 1833 in Hildburghausen (Thuringia, Germany). This specimen, however, ist from the Helsby Sandstone of the Storeton Quarry near Liverpool. Its species name is Chirotherium storetonense.[1]
Taxa Argoides

Lower Triassic fossil footprint (ichnite) of the ichnogenus Chirotherium, probably caused by an early archosaur, and first discovered 1833 in Hildburghausen (Thuringia, Germany). This specimen, however, ist from the Helsby Sandstone of the Storeton Quarry near Liverpool. Its species name is Chirotherium storetonense.[1]

Germany Triassic fossil specimen +9
Lower Triassic fossil footprint (ichnite) of the ichnogenus Chirotherium, probably caused by an early archosaur, and first discovered 1833 in Hildburghausen (Thuringia, Germany). This specimen, however, ist from the Helsby Sandstone of the Storeton Quarry near Liverpool. Its species name is Chirotherium storetonense.[1]
Taxa Delatorrichnus

Lower Triassic fossil footprint (ichnite) of the ichnogenus Chirotherium, probably caused by an early archosaur, and first discovered 1833 in Hildburghausen (Thuringia, Germany). This specimen, however, ist from the Helsby Sandstone of the Storeton Quarry near Liverpool. Its species name is Chirotherium storetonense.[1]

Germany Triassic fossil specimen +9
Lower Triassic fossil footprint (ichnite) of the ichnogenus Chirotherium, probably caused by an early archosaur, and first discovered 1833 in Hildburghausen (Thuringia, Germany). This specimen, however, ist from the Helsby Sandstone of the Storeton Quarry near Liverpool. Its species name is Chirotherium storetonense.[1]
Taxa Dinehichnus

Lower Triassic fossil footprint (ichnite) of the ichnogenus Chirotherium, probably caused by an early archosaur, and first discovered 1833 in Hildburghausen (Thuringia, Germany). This specimen, however, ist from the Helsby Sandstone of the Storeton Quarry near Liverpool. Its species name is Chirotherium storetonense.[1]

Germany Triassic fossil specimen +9
Lower Triassic fossil footprint (ichnite) of the ichnogenus Chirotherium, probably caused by an early archosaur, and first discovered 1833 in Hildburghausen (Thuringia, Germany). This specimen, however, ist from the Helsby Sandstone of the Storeton Quarry near Liverpool. Its species name is Chirotherium storetonense.[1]
Taxa Dromaeosauripus

Lower Triassic fossil footprint (ichnite) of the ichnogenus Chirotherium, probably caused by an early archosaur, and first discovered 1833 in Hildburghausen (Thuringia, Germany). This specimen, however, ist from the Helsby Sandstone of the Storeton Quarry near Liverpool. Its species name is Chirotherium storetonense.[1]

Germany Triassic fossil specimen +9
Lower Triassic fossil footprint (ichnite) of the ichnogenus Chirotherium, probably caused by an early archosaur, and first discovered 1833 in Hildburghausen (Thuringia, Germany). This specimen, however, ist from the Helsby Sandstone of the Storeton Quarry near Liverpool. Its species name is Chirotherium storetonense.[1]
Taxa Eutynichnium

Lower Triassic fossil footprint (ichnite) of the ichnogenus Chirotherium, probably caused by an early archosaur, and first discovered 1833 in Hildburghausen (Thuringia, Germany). This specimen, however, ist from the Helsby Sandstone of the Storeton Quarry near Liverpool. Its species name is Chirotherium storetonense.[1]

Germany Triassic fossil specimen +9
fossil Europasaurus, Aathal Dinosaur Museum.

fossil Europasaurus, Aathal Dinosaur Museum.

museum fossil Dinosauria Europasaurus
Left humerus of Haestasaurus becklesii (NHMUK R1870). A, anterior view; B, posterior view; Abbreviations: af, anconeal fossa; dp, deltopectoral crest; hh, humeral head; ltf, lateral triceps fossa; mtf, medial triceps fossa.

This fossil was found in strata of the Hastings Beds (late Berriasian—Valanginian in age) on the coast near Hastings, East Sussex, England.

Left humerus of Haestasaurus becklesii (NHMUK R1870). A, anterior view; B, posterior view; Abbreviations: af, anconeal fossa; dp, deltopectoral crest; hh, humeral head; ltf, lateral triceps fossa; mtf, medial triceps fossa. This fossil was found in strata of the Hastings Beds (late Berriasian—Valanginian in age) on the coast near Hastings, East Sussex, England.

crest humerus Berriasian Valanginian +2
Holotype fossils of Glacialisaurus (PR 1823); metatarsals, tibia, fibula, ankle bones

Holotype fossils of Glacialisaurus (PR 1823); metatarsals, tibia, fibula, ankle bones

bone fossil holotype Glacialisaurus
Fossil Panphagia

Fossil Panphagia

fossil Panphagia
Fossil of Sthenarosaurus, an extinct reptile - Took the picture at Museum of Paleontology, Tuebingen

Fossil of Sthenarosaurus, an extinct reptile - Took the picture at Museum of Paleontology, Tuebingen

museum fossil Sthenarosaurus
fossil of seeleyosaurus

fossil of seeleyosaurus

fossil Seeleyosaurus
Fossil of Peteinosaurus zambellii (paratype MCSNB 3359), an extinct reptile

Fossil of Peteinosaurus zambellii (paratype MCSNB 3359), an extinct reptile

fossil Peteinosaurus
Fossil at the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales in Caballito, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Fossil at the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales in Caballito, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Argentina fossil Pterodaustro
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News

This ancient fossil could rewrite the story of human origins
fossil discovery human origin study
Scientists may have cracked the case of whether a seven-million-year-old fossil could walk upright. A new study found strong anatomical evidence that Sahelanthropus tchadensis was bipedal, including a ligament attachment seen only in human ancestors. Despite its ape-like appearance and small brain, its leg and hip structure suggest it moved confidently on two legs. The finding places bipedalism near the very root of the human family tree.
03/01/2026 sciencedaily-human-evo
Fossilized bones are revealing secrets from a lost world
bone fossil
Researchers have uncovered thousands of preserved metabolic molecules inside fossilized bones millions of years old, offering a surprising new window into prehistoric life. The findings reveal animals’ diets, diseases, and even their surrounding climate, including evidence of warmer, wetter environments. One fossil even showed signs of a parasite still known today. This approach could transform how scientists reconstruct ancient ecosystems.
03/01/2026 sciencedaily
This strange ancient snake was hiding in a museum for decades
bone museum fossil discovery
A strange little snake fossil found on England’s south coast has finally revealed its secrets—more than 40 years after it was discovered. The newly named Paradoxophidion richardoweni lived around 37 million years ago, during a time when Britain was warmer and teeming with reptiles. Though known only from tiny backbone bones, this “paradox snake” carries a surprising mix of traits seen in modern snakes, placing it near the very roots of today’s most diverse snake group.
31/12/2025 sciencedaily
Earth’s worst extinction was followed by a shockingly fast ocean comeback
predator fossil discovery extinction
A spectacular fossil trove on the Arctic island of Spitsbergen shows that marine life made a stunning comeback after Earth’s greatest extinction. Tens of thousands of fossils reveal fully aquatic reptiles and complex food chains thriving just three million years later. Some predators grew over five meters long, challenging the idea of a slow, step-by-step recovery. The find rewrites the early history of ocean ecosystems.
30/12/2025 sciencedaily
Dinosaur bones found almost on top of each other in Transylvania
bone pelvis Romania fossil Dinosauria Titanosauria skeleton
Scientists exploring Romania’s Hațeg Basin have discovered one of the densest dinosaur fossil sites ever found, with bones lying almost on top of each other. The K2 site preserves thousands of remains from a prehistoric flood-fed lake that acted like a natural bone trap 72 million years ago. Alongside common local dinosaurs, researchers uncovered the first well-preserved titanosaur skeletons ever found in the region. The site reveals how ancient European dinosaur ecosystems formed and evolved in
23/12/2025 sciencedaily
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