Dahalokely tokana-A Meat eating Madagascan Dinosaur.

Recent Fossil finds from Madagascar have been identified as a new species Dahalokely tokana meaning 'Lonely small bandit'. The relatively small Theropod about the size of a large cow lived 90 Million years ago in a time when India and Madagascar formed a landmass of their own. Madagascar, famed for it's fossil treasure trove has yielded a new species for a decade making this find very important not only for Madagascar but for our understanding of the evolution and distribution of Dinosaurs in the late Cretaceous. Dahalokely is a member of the Abelisauridae a family of dinosaurs that include such species as Majungatholus, Tarascosaurus, and Carnotaurus. Abelisaurs were common in the southern hemisphere at this time and were ferocious predators. Joe Sertich says 'It just reinforces the importance of searching previously unsearched areas for new Dinosaurs waiting to be discovered'.

Australopithecus Sediba-The Most in Depth Analysis Yet

A new analysis of the several partial skeletons representing the Australopithecus sediba species has revealed a mixture of Ape and Human features. The 3 skeletons MH1,MH2,and MH4 are the remains of an adult female, a juvenile male, and indeterminate adult. They were discovered in 2008 in Malapa northwest of Johannesburg, by Matthew Berger the son of Dr Berger in a depression which indicates a collapsed cave roof. The findings, focusing mainly on the species locomotion infer an unusual style of walking. Dr DeSilva has found that The heel bones represent that of a Chimpanzee more than Human. Suggesting it walked with an inward twist of the knee and hip with it's feet facing inward. However not all of their time was spent on the ground. They appear to have numerous adaptions to an arboreal (tree-climbing)lifestyle. Many more adaptions to tree climbing than are found in other Australopithecine species. Additional information gathered from the study suggest that the 3 individuals were related and died as a result of becoming trapped in the collapsed cave complex. Eventually there bodies were washed away into a pool along with Hyena, Saber-tooth cat, and Gazelle remains. This type of fossilisation has led to some experts believing that a layer of filmy substance found associated with the fossils is the skin of the individuals although this is as of yet un-concluded . All findings were reported to the Palaeoanthropological in a special presentation in Honolulu, Hawaii. In recent years it has become much more apparent that our evolution is not linear as first thought but instead is branched. This means that evolution has not led up to us but instead that we are one of many branches of an extended family. We are constantly reminded that we are the best, not only out of the Hominids or primates but out of all life on earth. The fact is: We simply aren't. There are many dominant species. For instance we cannot climb a tree as fast as a Gibbon, chase down a Zebra as fast as a lion, swim as well as a Dolphin, or reproduce as fast as Bacteria. We are the best at what we do. Thinking, problem solving, and social skills. These skills have led to our evolutionary supremacy over other species that have those skills. In the same way that Birds are the dominant design over other flying creatures. Which has led to the extinction of many other flying Vertebrates such as Pterosaurs. This is indicative of the way we have brought about the extinction of species how do what we do such as Homo Erectus and Neanderthals. Thus we are not the best but the best out our specific niche. Native American legends state 'Man and animals used to be very close, then man thought himself better than the animals, so they quit talking to us'. This rings true in how our affinity with the Natural has wained. In many ways this loss could be responsible for our disregard for our planet a problem we are now desperately trying to solve. Therefore it is possible to conclude that our evolutionary arrogance is responsible for the way we have damaged the natural world. The view that nature is 2nd rate to us is wrong. Nature is a force that has proven many times in our past that it has the power to destroy us in seconds. Consequently respect and understanding of the Natural world is imperative and could define the only escape route we have from our never ending spiral of harm we are inflicting upon the planet and it's consequences. After all who knows what curveball nature may throw at us in future.

Spinosaurus-Flesh Tearing Behemoth or Seafood Connoisseur?

Spinosaurus aegypticus, a Dinosaur flung into the public spotlight due to it's appearance in JP3. In which it is portrayed as a relentless predator intent on devouring any how get in it's way. But was Spinosaurus really a T-Rex pwning, tourist chasing super predator or a Piscivore. So how can we ascertain whether Spinosaurus ate Fish or meat? Well, as usual the answer lies in the bones. Firstly the teeth of Spinosaurs in general are very conical, an affinity they share with Crocodilians who although are Piscivorous but are not strangers to a bit of meat. Spinosaurs have often been compared with Crocodiles due to their elongated snouts and teeth. Additionally the nostrils of Spinosaurus are situated atop the head in much the same way as a Crocodile! Further clues may lie in other Spinosaurs most notably Baryonyx. Baryonyx is a Spinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Europe 130 million years ago. The majority of it's remains have been found in the UK. The first skeleton was discovered by amateur fossil hunter Bill Walker in the 80's. Initially only the huge claw of Baryonyx was found. But Palaeontologists from the NHM later discovered the majority of the skeleton. Typically it had a long snout, high nostrils, and conical teeth. But it was what was found in the stomach location that shocked the Palaeontologists. The scales and bones of the 1m fish Lepitodes. Thus indicating a diet of fish. Baryonyx was evidently a fish eater it's teeth had no serrations were purely conical. But the teeth of Spinosaurs did however have serrations. This suggests Spinosaurus had a generalized diet compromising of both fish and meat (There is evidence of a Spinosaur eating a Pterosaur!). So for Spinosaurs, It will be a steak with fish fingers on the side!( and a bit of Pterosaur)

Swimming Ankylosaurs?

The Theory behind Ankylosaurs possessing aquatic abilities is sprouted from the large amount of Ankylosaur remains found in rocks formed in marine environments. Examples off such specimens include the famous Suncor Ankylosaur. The Suncor Ankylosaur was accidentally stumbled upon by workers at Suncor's millennium mine in Alberta, Canada. Immediately Palaeontologists from the Royal Tyrell Museum rushed to scene. Initially they believed it was a Marine Reptile but later realized they were looking at a Ankylosaur. Other remains include Skeletal components from the Gault clay of Folkestone, UK and from the Cambridge Greensand. Other remains have been found in the chalk of England and Kansas. So why so Ankylosaurs appear so prolifically in marine deposits. Is it down to the fact that their bodies merely floated out to sea after their death. Or does this represent a semi-aquatic lifestyle? A semi aquatic lifestyle would mean that Ankylosaurs would have lived in the same way as a Hippo their body shape does seem similar. Both have short squat legs and bulky bodies. So superficially Ankylosaurs share features with modern semi-aquatic herbivores. But what would the benefits of a semi-aquatic lifestyle be? It is a useful advantage in terms of escaping predators that are not as skilled at swimming or cannot swim at all. Additionally herbivores can exploit nutrient rich aquatic plants (first suggested for Ankylosaurs by Mehl in 1936). Ankylosaurs would have been very heavy due to their armour and therefore speed would not have been on their side, thus if they were semi-aquatic escaping into water would have aided their escape. Another comparison with a Hippo is that they are slow and sluggish on the ground but graceful and fairly fast in the water. But how could a creature weighing several tonnes support itself and move through the water. There are many theories behind how Ankylosaurs could achieve buoyancy. An interesting theory is gas. As a large herbivore an Ankylosaur would have produced plenty of gas as a result of the digestion of plants. The theory states that this gas could have been used to achieve buoyancy in water as the Dinosaurs bowels would have contained plenty of stinky methane. No matter how elaborate the theories may be leading experts on Ankylosaurs argue otherwise. Walter Coombs a leading authority on Ankylosaurs doubts whether they were aquatic 'These 'Marine Nodosaurids' have very close relatives that lived far in land, and lack features that make them any better adapted for water than their inland cousins'. Despite this opinion many still support the idea of aquatic Ankylosaurs. So semi-aquatic grazers or drifting corpses? You decide.

Vectidraco daisymorrisae

Probably the best species name in the history of Taxonomy, this little Pterosaur is the latest ancient resident of the Isle of Wight to come tumbling down the cliffs. It was Discovered by young Natural Historian Daisy Morris whilst combing the beach at Atherfield point for fossils. Vectidraco life reconstruction Eminent UK Paleontologist Darren Naish published the paper describing the new species and Genus, and island fossil hunter Martin Simpson ahs been affiliated with the discovery. He described daisy as 'a unique little girl' and that when they brought the remains to him in 2009 he 'knew it was something special'. Daisy has let's say an unusual collection of animal remains obtained through a 'interesting' process. (If you are squeamish don't read ahead). She will collect the remains of road kill and other dead animals and then place them in a crate in her garden. In the crate decomposition will take hold and maggots will strip the bones of flesh and tissue. Once this is done she will then collect the remaining bones. Many would immediately scream 'DANGER DISEASE' but apparently it is quite the contrary. The specimen that led to daisy's claim to fame is the pelvis of the pterosaur including articulated vertebrae: In life Vectidraco would have been small perhaps the size of a crow. At the time it lived (115 MYA in the Early Cretaceous) Vectidraco would have skimmed the sea's and beaches catching fish and scavenging. The clays at Atherfield date to 115 MYA which corresponds to rising of sea levels globally indicate a shallow marine/coastal environment very close to land. A children's book is due to be published about the life of 'Daisy Morris's Isle of Wight Dragon'. This just goes to show no matter your age or experience you can make a discovery worthy of scientific attention using just persistence and luck!