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EXTINCT ANIMALS
In 1901, a Stanford graduate accidentally found mysterious bones in California. His discovery helped reveal a lost world of 600 ancient speciesIn a fascinating turn of events, geologist William Warren Orcutt uncovered ancient animal bones within asphalt deposits, revealing a captiv...- In 1836, a pangolin from Nepal entered a London museum collection. 190 years later, scientists sequenced its preserved DNA and confirmed Manis aurita as a distinct species, giving conservationists a new tool against poachingA historic pangolin specimen from 1836 helped confirm Manis aurita as a distinct species. This discovery aids conservationists in identifyi...
- 10 million years ago, this 23-foot crocodile ruled prehistoric Colombia; its fossilised victims reveal a brutal secretIn Colombia, researchers uncovered fossilized bones indicating that Purussaurus neivensis, an enormous caiman relative, engaged in predatio...
- In 1948, scientists abandoned this giant fossil. Nearly 80 years later, it became something nobody expectedScientists identified a new species of ancient amphibian-like creature from an Arctic fossil. This previously unknown creature, Arctobatrac...
- In 1991, a Norwegian geologist found one ancient polar bear bone. 34 years later, 6,000 bones revealed a 75,000-year-old Arctic communityA polar bear rib led to the discovery of an ancient Arctic animal community. Researchers examined over six thousand bone fragments using DN...
- 230 million years ago Dinosaurs first appeared on earth, but was there apex predator Jurassic like the size of a mouse ever existed? New research finds shocking detailsDinosaurs first appeared roughly 230 million years ago and eventually became the dominant land animals, holding that status until an astero...
- In 1930s, Finland brought back beavers but accidentally introduced the wrong species. The mistake still affects wildlife todayDuring the 1930s, Finland's attempt to reestablish its native beaver population took a turn when North American beavers were unwittingly in...
- For generations, Yao hunters in Mozambique have followed a wild bird called the greater honeyguide through the forest to find hidden bee nests; experiments now confirm the bird knows exactly what it is doingIn the heart of Mozambique, Yao hunters have cultivated a remarkable alliance with honeyguide birds, tapping into their natural instincts f...
- In Argentina, one fossil bone from a 236-million-year-old cynodont contained a rare clue about birth. Researchers found its newborn size resembled mammals, suggesting live birth evolved 95 million years earlier than thoughtNew fossil evidence challenges the long-held belief that ancient cynodonts laid eggs. A recent study found compelling proof that Chiniquodo...
- In 1904, Newfoundland released just 4 moose onto the island after an earlier introduction. 122 years later, their descendants number about 110,000 and have become powerful drivers of change across the island's forestsMoose impact on Newfoundland forests: Newfoundland introduced four moose in 1904, which now number around 110,000. These animals significan...
- Originated 250 millions ago, Crocodiles and Birds closest living relatives yet one flies, apex predator can't, scientists have finally figured out whyReversion to a cold-blooded metabolism may have saved the crocodile lineage from extinction 66 million years ago when an asteroid ended the...
- In 1955, Hawaiʻi released a predatory snail to control giant African snails; it climbed into native forests and helped wipe out rare tree snailsIn Hawaii, the introduction of the rosy wolfsnail was intended to combat a pest, but it drastically backfired. Instead of targeting its int...
- Earlier this year, researchers analyzed ancient Chilean mummies for traces of smallpox DNA. The evidence produced the first direct molecular proof that European colonists brought the deadly virus to the AmericasSmallpox DNA discovery: Ancient DNA from Chilean mummies offers direct evidence of European smallpox introduction. This discovery supports ...
- The tamarin on Brazil’s R$20 note once had only around 200 left in the wild; Smithsonian zoologist Devra Kleiman helped build the breeding program behind its recoveryOnce on the brink of extinction, the golden lion tamarin saw its population dwindle to a mere 200 individuals. Thanks to Devra Kleiman's pi...
- The parrot on America’s El Yunque quarter once had only about 13 birds left in the wild; biologists bred and released new flocks across Puerto RicoFeatured on the 2012 US quarter, the Puerto Rican parrot symbolizes a triumph over extinction. In the 1990s, a genetic analysis unveiled a ...
- In 1970s American bald eagles were saved from brink of extinction, decades later California's internet sensation, social media viral species Jackie dies. Officials announce cause of deathAmerican bald eagles teetered on the brink of extinction until the pesticide DDT was banned in the 1970s and other protections were establi...
- North America saved its bison from extinction. Now scientists face a new threatBison numbers have recovered after near extinction, but genetic diversity is now a concern. Fragmented herds lack natural gene exchange, po...
- Scientists reveal the terrifying 'second strike' that may have wiped out the dinosaurs after asteroid impactApproximately 66 million years ago, a colossal asteroid struck Earth, generating catastrophic global temperatures. As superheated debris ra...
- The story of Kazakhstan's lost Turan tigers: Hunted to extinction, now making a comeback after 70 yearsTigers are returning to Kazakhstan's wilderness after a 70-year absence. An adult female Amur tiger named Umit was released into the Ile-Ba...
- What was so special about Wrangel and St. Paul islands, where Woolly Mammoths survived until their extinction? Scientists revealed the answer two decades agoFor years, scientists believed the last woolly mammoths disappeared because inbreeding and genetic decline made survival impossible. A land...
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