A boom in reptile abundance and diversity around 250 million years ago may have resulted from soaring temperatures beginning millions of years earlier, rather than filling the gap left by a mass extinction of mammals
The planet was already on a warming trend, but the eruptions spurred a roughly 20-million-year-long hot streak. While early mammal ancestors began dying en masse, reptiles appeared to evolve at breakneck speed, ranging from small gecko-like creatures on land to domineering ichthyosaurs at sea.
Simões and his colleagues spent eight years measuring and comparing museum fossils of extinct amniotes – the four-legged ancestors of mammals, reptiles and birds – that lived in a period spanning 70 million years before and 70 million years after the major extinction event. He compiled 348 morphological characteristics, like skull dimensions and tail length, for 1000 fossil specimens from 125 species.
Their statistical analysis revealed that reptiles were increasing in number and diversity around 40 million years before the dramatic explosions, indicating the reptiles’ success was tied to a warming climate, not the sudden loss of mammalian competition. “As you reach the peak of those climatic changes, reptiles were already evolving quite fast,” says Simões. “This takeover of reptiles was already under course.”at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. “New climates themselves could be stimulating evolution to ultimately produce very diverse new forms,” he says., this stretch of warming happened relatively slowly.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
Scotland makes history as first country to provide free period productsScotland has became the first country in the world to require that public facilities provide period products free of charge to anyone.
Baca lebih lajut »
Why Do I Break Out Right Before My Period? - Love for Glam'Why do I break out right before my period?' then this is the article for you. And we'll not only explain the reason behind it. We will also give you tips on preventing these annoying pimples from ever appearing on your face!
Baca lebih lajut »
Do period-tracking apps keep data safe? Researchers release new privacy warningData recorded on these apps -- like weight, birth plan, pregnancy journals and doctor appointments -- may not be as private as some want them to be.
Baca lebih lajut »
1912 Cleveland Park house lists for $2.6 millionHOUSE OF THE WEEK | The seven-bedroom, three-bathroom, 3,850-square-foot house has many of its period features remaining.
Baca lebih lajut »
Nearly two dozen sex trafficking victims rescued in Denver metro area during national FBI operationOver a three-day period, 11 child victims and 11 adult victims of sexual exploitation were recovered in the Denver area in the FBI's Operation Cross Country.
Baca lebih lajut »
Bitcoin, Ethereum Technical Analysis: BTC Plunges Below $22,000, While ETH Nears 10-Day Low – Market Updates Bitcoin NewsBitcoin was significantly lower on Friday, as the token fell by over $1,500 in a 24-hour period. Ethereum fell below $1,700.
Baca lebih lajut »