Ancient case of microbial death
A remarkably preserved horseshoe crab fossil from North America offers rare insight into some of the earliest known cases of animal disease in a Late Carboniferous […]
Fossils shed light on snake bite and legs
New fossils of an ancient legged snake, called Najash, shed light on the origin of the slithering reptiles. The fossil discoveries, revealed in Science Advances , […]
Dodo descendant found in ‘Zealandia’
A new pigeon species, the Zealandian Dove, which is related to the extinct dodo, has been identified by Australian and NZ researchers. New Zealand only has […]
Flo from Flores is not your mother
New research in Australia has found the tiny ‘hobbit’ people of Asia are not ancestors or even close relatives of modern humans. The most comprehensive study […]
Fossils reveal life cycle of Aussie big bird
The sex life of the biggest bird to have ever roamed the planet has been revealed – and it’s more akin to a goose than an emu.
Mighty marsupial lion claws its way out of the darkness
Flinders University palaeontologists have cast new light on the behaviour of Australia’s top mammalian predator, the fearsome marsupial lion (Thylacoleo carnifex).
Flinders scientist wins coveted science prize
The Verco Medal – the highest honour bestowed by the Royal Society of South Australia – has been awarded to Flinders University’s internationally-esteemed palaeontologist, Professor John Long.
Evolution’s first breath
In a major evolutionary discovery, Flinders University palaeontologist Professor John Long (pictured) has found evidence to show that four-legged animals first developed the ability to breathe air as ancient fish in water.
Ancient fishes had abs
The discovery of ancient fishes with rippling abdominal muscles shows that palaeontology still holds an important role in modern science.