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Spitting cobra species first evolved the ability to spray venom from their fangs in order to defend themselves — rather than to attack prey — a study has found. Researchers from Wales found that instantly painful venoms these snakes spit was evolved from different components not once, but on three separate occasions. The venom — which … Read more
One of the most ancient groups of birds was able to detect vibrations in the ground, allowing them to capture prey – a ‘superpower’ that is found in a handful of modern-day birds. The trait, called remote-touch, is known among kiwis, ibises and sandpipers, but a team from the University of Cape Town believes the lithornithids … Read more
One of the most ancient groups of birds was able to detect vibrations in the ground, allowing them to capture prey – a ‘superpower’ that is found in a handful of modern-day birds. The trait, called remote-touch, is known among kiwis, ibises and sandpipers, but a team from the University of Cape Town believes the lithornithids … Read more
Insects today have wings because their primitive crustacean ancestors moved to land about 300 million years ago, a new study has revealed. The wings originally evolved from a random outgrowth or ‘lobe’ on the legs of the crustacean ancestors, US researchers claim. Sections of the crustacean’s leg were gradually pushed back into its body to support … Read more
Complex life evolved on Earth 100 million years LATER than previously thought, scientists claim – after discovering 635-million-year-old fossils were produced by algae, NOT animals Researchers recreated chemical traces found in ancient rocks in the laboratory Those rocks contained chemicals similar to those produced by modern sponges Teams of scientists found they could recreate the … Read more
The ability of ancient humans to master tools coincided with their ability to teach others, a new study says. UK researchers conducted experiments designed to replicate the evolution of human-made tools over several hundred years with pipe cleaners and bits of paper. The experts found that participants who taught each other made the most rapid … Read more
A species of ancient human that lived two million years ago was forced to evolve and change its physical traits in order to survive climate change. The emergence of Paranthropus robustus happened roughly at the same time as the more primitive hominin species Australopithecus died out. It is believed this period of rapid change in South … Read more
Hoofed creatures like horses and rhinos evolved from a strange sheep-sized animal that looked like a cross between a pig and a dog, researchers claim. Experts from Johns Hopkins University discovered the remains of the strange creature in Indian and say it dates back about 55 million years. Named Cambaytherium, it is the direct ancestor … Read more
Two magpie-sized dinosaurs that lived 160 million years ago evolved the ability to glide but were poor flyers, a new study shows. Despite having bat-like wings, the two foot-long, feathered dinosaurs, called Yi and Ambopteryx, only managed to glide clumsily between the trees, say US researchers. Their poor aerial ability meant they eventually died out … Read more
A tiny flatworm has provided scientists with the first evidence that species may be able to adapt to a rapidly changing climate in a relatively short period of time. Over the past 100 years the flatworm has adapted to survive in different sea water conditions – developing a new tolerance to lower salinities caused by … Read more