Buzz
The planet was vastly different in ancient times. Unusual creatures roamed the Earth, living and dying, and their remains continue to surface today. Over the past couple of years, numerous remarkable discoveries have emerged. These finds were not only odd but also uncovered unknown truths, solved long-standing mysteries, and sometimes sparked new ones!
This list highlights the most recent and mind-boggling fossil finds, such as Arctic apes that thrived in complete darkness and the discovery of birds with T-Rex-like heads that could help answer one of paleontology's greatest questions.
10. A Water-Loving T-Rex Relative
The newly identified Natovenator polydontus wasn't a direct relative of the T-Rex, but both shared a lineage within the theropod group. Theropods typically walked on two legs, were carnivorous, and lived on land. However, Natovenator polydontus defied this pattern by adapting to a semi-aquatic lifestyle.
Smaller than many well-known theropods—about the size of a duck—this creature was the first non-avian theropod to adapt to aquatic life. Interestingly, the area it inhabited around 72 million years ago is now part of Mongolia's Gobi Desert.
With a neck resembling that of a goose and a body streamlined like a penguin, this creature's forelimbs were also flipper-like. Its rib structure was similar to that of diving birds. The discovery revealed that despite N. polydontus not being avian—and therefore not a bird—it had evolved to resemble one in its appearance.
9. Strange Creatures from Before the Dinosaurs
In 2022, fossils discovered in Wales revealed creatures that once lived in the oceans between 485.4 million and 443.8 million years ago, predating the first dinosaurs. With soft bodies, trunk-like noses covered in spikes, and undulating flaps along their sides, they moved through the water. Beneath the flaps, rows of stubby legs were visible.
No modern creatures bear much resemblance to these strange beings. Although opabiniids, which lived around 40 million years earlier, share some similarities, they also have notable differences. Opabiniids had five eyes and lacked the spiky snoots seen in the newly discovered creatures, named Mieridduryn bonniae.
Scientists remain uncertain whether M. bonniae is a variant of opabiniid or a completely different species that simply shares a similar appearance. Adding to the enigma is the fact that M. bonniae, at just 0.5 inches (13 millimeters), was not found alone. A second, even smaller specimen measuring 0.1 inches (3 mm) was also discovered in the same quarry. Could this smaller specimen represent a larval form of M. bonniae? Or might it be an opabiniid, as suggested by its fan-shaped tail and back furrows? Until experts can unravel this mystery, the smaller fossil will remain unnamed.
8. A Prehistoric Web of Life
In 2022, a farmer from Gloucestershire granted fossil hunters access to search his land for ancient treasures. It didn’t take long for them to realize that the farm sat atop a rich deposit of Jurassic-era fossils. One of the most remarkable finds was the revelation of an entire prehistoric food chain. Dolphin-like ichthyosaurs were found preying on large fish called Pachycormus, which, in turn, fed on smaller fish, insects, and squid.
The most remarkable discovery was the head of a Pachycormus. Unlike most fossils, which are flattened or crushed over time, this one had been preserved with such vivid detail that it appeared as though it were a 3D rendering of a fish poised to strike. This exceptional find means researchers don’t need to reconstruct anything to understand what this fearsome tuna-like predator must have looked like.
7. Pterosaurs with Flamingo-like Feeding Habits
Traditional illustrations of pterosaurs often depict the flying reptiles gliding through the sky, their elongated bills wide open and filled with small teeth. But in 2023, scientists announced the discovery of a new pterosaur that defied all expectations.
This creature, which lived 157 million years ago in what is now Germany, was a marvel of toothy adaptation. After counting, researchers identified nearly 500 teeth, making it the second-highest number found in any pterosaur. However, the teeth were uniquely arranged: they were hooked and spaced finely like a lice comb—an entirely unprecedented feature.
Interestingly, the pterosaur's beak lacked this dental abundance at the front, where it curved upward. The rest of the bill was also not straight but instead resembled the bill of a spoonbill. These features suggested that this species, part of the Ctenochasmatidae family, likely fed like a flamingo, filtering food while wading in shallow waters.
6. The True Ninja Turtles
Although they couldn't speak or practice Kung Fu, Stupendemys geographicus was a force to be reckoned with. This ancient species, which roamed the Earth about 10 million years ago, was already well-known for its remarkable size. Weighing nearly as much as a hippo, these turtles boasted shells that were longer than an adult human and could reach an impressive 10 feet (3 meters) in width.
In 2020, researchers made an exciting discovery: the first complete skeletons of this prehistoric species. Their findings suggested that these colossal reptiles likely engaged in fierce battles with each other and managed to ward off large predators. Evidence of this includes bite marks left by giant caimans, monstrous crocodilian creatures that could stretch up to 40 feet (12 meters) in length.
One of the key factors in the turtles' strength was the presence of dangerous horns on the male's shell, located near the 'shoulders.' Each horn was about a foot (0.30 meters) long. Additionally, their jawbones indicated that they were skilled hunters, possibly feeding on smaller turtles, fish, and mollusks.
5. A Pterodactyl with Opposable Thumbs
During the Jurassic period, pterodactyls soared through the skies, but unlike today's birds, they didn't reside in trees. Then, in 2021, scientists identified a new species from China that might just be the first pterodactyl known to live among the branches. Officially named Kunpengopterus antipollicatus, its unique characteristic was opposable thumbs, earning it the nickname 'Monkeydactyl.' This unusual feature suggests that the pterodactyl could grip tree branches just like primates.
Researchers scanned a 160-million-year-old fossil to examine whether the animal possessed the appropriate skeletal and muscular build to climb trees. The scan produced a 3D model, which confirmed that the Monkeydactyl had the necessary adaptations for tree-climbing. One theory suggests that this species of pterodactyl may have taken to the trees to avoid competition for resources with other pterosaurs in more traditional habitats.
4. The Darkness Apes
It may sound unbelievable, but Arctic apes did exist 52 million years ago. A 2023 study revealed that the Arctic Circle was home to at least two species of primates, known as Ignacius dawsonae and Ignacius mckennai. These small, squirrel-like creatures weighed about 5 pounds (2.26 kilograms) – a relatively large size for that era.
What makes these creatures extraordinary is their ability to endure an extreme environment. They lived on what is now Ellesmere Island in Canada, where the polar winter meant six months of darkness. Despite the Arctic being swampy and warm at the time, the long nights posed challenges for plant growth and made it difficult for herbivores to thrive.
Their fossils revealed that these primates had developed an extraordinary adaptation. With exceptionally strong jaws, they were able to chew through and consume the tough vegetation that grew in a sunless environment.
3. The Mystery of Sicily's Elephants Unraveled
Sicily once hosted two species of miniature elephants, with the smallest no bigger than a Shetland pony. Although their charming fossils weren't a new discovery, scientists were curious about their origin. DNA found in the bones prompted a genetic analysis. In 2021, the test results were released, telling a tale that seemed almost too fantastical to believe.
Between 70,000 and 200,000 years ago, a herd of elephants migrated to Sicily. These were not your typical elephants. They were Palaeoloxdon antiquus, enormous creatures standing nearly 15 feet (4.5 meters) tall and weighing over 30,864 pounds (14,000 kilograms).
To adapt to the island's scarce resources, the elephants began shrinking at a remarkable rate. Each generation grew smaller by hundreds of pounds. In just 40 generations, they had lost 85% of their original body mass, evolving from some of the largest land mammals to miniature 'pony' elephants.
2. The T-Rex Bird
Modern birds are the descendants of dinosaurs. Since this revelation, scientists have been baffled by how this extraordinary transformation occurred. It wasn’t a mere detour in evolution. The journey from a stegosaurus to a sparrow (for example) involved one of the most drastic changes in body structure, diversity, and adaptation to new environments ever witnessed in the natural world.
The main obstacle in understanding this transition was the lack of physical evidence. No ancient skeletons had come forward to shed light on how dinosaurs evolved into birds. However, in early 2023, a peculiar fossil was uncovered that could change everything. Named Cratonavis zhui, this creature lived in China approximately 120 million years ago and was, astonishingly, a bird with the head of a dinosaur.
To confirm this wasn’t a fluke, the fossil's skeleton was scanned and digitally reconstructed. It wasn’t an error. The body appeared and functioned like a bird, but the skull was strikingly similar to that of a T-Rex. This unique discovery has left researchers with a lot to analyze, but the anatomy of Cratonavis zhui might just provide the missing link in solving the dinosaur-to-bird transformation puzzle.
1. Ancient Giraffes Shatter Old Assumption
For a long time, it was believed that giraffes evolved long necks to reach foliage without competing with other herbivores. However, a recent discovery suggests that this ability to access food unavailable to other animals was more of a happy accident than an intentional design. The true reason giraffes developed such elongated necks lies in their aggressive behaviors.
The 17-million-year-old fossil came from a distant giraffe relative named Discokeryx xiezhi. Its neck was too short to fight in the manner of modern male giraffes, who swing their necks and use their heads like clubs to deliver powerful headbutts. Interestingly, D. xiezhi also engaged in headbutting, though in a different way. With specialized skull plates and neck bones, they were built to slam their heads together at high speeds.
Scientists believe that these intense courtship battles led giraffes to evolve a unique skeletal structure in their necks—and the one-of-a-kind fighting technique seen in today’s giraffes. This remarkable neck elongation took about two million years and, as an added bonus, gave these animals access to an abundant supply of high foliage.
