Biology

Research led by scientists associated with the American Museum of Natural History suggests that dinosaurs and pterosaurs descended of a very tiny ancestor, shedding light on how the characteristics of dinosaurs and flying pterosaurs evolved.

It has long been assumed that while some reptiles are capable of secreting venom from their mouth, such is not the case with amphibians. According to a new study, however, there is at least one member of the latter group that may have a lethal nip.

For a rough idea of a dog’s physical age, a popular approach is to simply multiply its actual age by seven, but new research upends this piece of conventional wisdom by drilling into the rate of molecular changes in their DNA.

When it comes to securing food, it was always thought that dolphins learn their foraging skills exclusively from their mothers, but scientists have now discovered that they can learn them off their peers, too.

New analysis of fossilized bones unearthed 47 years ago in Australia has revealed a previously unknown giant relative of the wombat. About the size of a black bear, it's so different from other marsupials that it's been placed in a family all of its own.

Scientists in Australia have delved into the dining habits of juvenile great white sharks and discovered a humble diet that belies their image as a fearsome predator, with bottom-dwelling creatures making up a decent portion of their meals.

Although the great white shark is one of the ocean's top predators, it's still a vulnerable species. Now, scientists have discovered what they say is a prehistoric nursery site for the sharks, and it could have implications for protecting them today.

Scientists have shown that the simple zig-zag pattern on the back of the European viper serves three different purposes; it helps it avoid detection; warns predators off if noticed; and can hide the snake's movement if it has to flee.

Not all corals respond to bleaching events by turning ghostly white, with some instead becoming shimmering arrays of bright neon colors. The authors of a new study believe this is an attempt to lure the much-needed algae back home.

Measuring more than 5 m (16 ft) long, Titanichthys was a giant armored fish that swam the oceans 380 million years ago. It may sound intimidating, but new research suggests that it fed in a manner much like that of today's harmless basking shark.

If the Jurassic Park movies are to be believed, Tyrannosaurus rex spent a lot of time quickly chasing down its prey. According to a new study, though, its legs were probably designed more for endurance than for speed.

GMOs in food are subject to some tight regulations. Now, researchers at North Carolina State University have created a new version of CRISPR that lets scientists edit crops without introducing new DNA, meaning they technically aren’t GMOs.