Reptiles are a diverse group of cold-blooded vertebrates that belong to the class Reptilia. This class includes snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodilians, and birds, although birds are now often classified separately in their own group. Reptiles are characterized by their dry, scaly skin, which helps prevent water loss, making them well-adapted to a variety of terrestrial environments. They lay hard-shelled eggs, although some species have developed live birth through evolutionary adaptation.
Scientists from King’s College London discovered that Komodo dragons’ serrated teeth are enhanced with iron, particularly concentrated along the cutting edges. This feature, staining the…
Researchers developed TetrapodTraits, a comprehensive database featuring over 33,000 tetrapod species, aimed at enhancing global biodiversity studies. This tool addresses knowledge gaps and data inconsistencies…
Study reveals heath goannas, a species of giant lizard, could save the Australian sheep industry millions by managing blowfly populations better than invasive species, underscoring…
A new venomous snake species, Ovophis jenkinsi, was discovered in Yunnan, known for its aggressive defense and preference for humid environments. A team of Chinese…
Researchers have found the oldest Southern Hemisphere fossil of a nothosaur in New Zealand, dating back 246 million years, providing new insights into the early…
Researchers have identified a new snake species in the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia. Named Rhynchocalamus hejazicus, this small snake is notable for its black…
Recent research has shown that the Tridentinosaurus antiquus fossil, once thought to contain preserved skin, is actually a forgery with painted “soft tissues,” highlighting the…
Paleontological analysis shows renowned fossil thought to show soft tissue preservation is in fact just paint. A 280-million-year-old fossil that has baffled researchers for decades…
A groundbreaking discovery reveals the oldest fossilized reptile skin, showing significant evolutionary features and offering a unique perspective on early terrestrial animal life. Preserved in…
A newly discovered iguana species adds to Asia’s diverse reptile population, having been formally recognized in the scientific community through its description in the open-access…
Researchers have mapped the family tree of crocodiles and their extinct relatives to shed new light on why there are so few species of the…
An examination of European pond turtle remains discovered at a burial site in Poland provides new insights into Wielbark culture burial custom The discovery of…
A global team of scientists has identified and named a new species of leaf-tailed gecko from northern Madagascar, known as Uroplatus garamaso. Leaf-tailed geckos are…
Plesiosaurs developed their distinctive long necks rapidly, evolving within a span of five million years, as revealed by a recent study introducing a new ancestor,…
New research has unveiled a 250-million-year-old reptile fossil, Hupehsuchus, in China, showing that it used a whale-like filter-feeding method. This discovery highlights the creature’s unique…
Fossil evidence reveals that the long necks of the ancient marine reptiles, Tanystropheus, made them vulnerable to predators. The study found bite marks on the…
107-million-year-old pterosaur bones, the oldest of their kind, have been confirmed by researchers in Australia, as reported in Historical Biology. The fossils, discovered over three…
Dragons and Brain Evolution These days, dragons are keeping Game of Thrones fans on their toes. But according to recent research conducted by Max Planck…