The classification of Ornithocheiriformes has been up in the air since the early days of #pterosaur research. This new paper offers an updated framework that aligns definitions and stabilizes nomenclature for various proposed systems of evolutionary relationships.

Holoplanktonic mollusks provide valuable insights into past environments, and their distribution has expanded with the discovery of a Late Pleistocene assemblage of holoplanktonic gastropods, including the first-ever report of a heteropod from Taiwanese deposits.

Triassic age rocks from central East #Greenland preserve bountiful vertebrate fossils. A new study has described 950 specimens collected from these rocks in a single expedition. These specimens line up well with European faunas, confirming their influence in #Triassic Greenland.

Three new #Ordovician sponges, including a new #species, have been discovered in the reef mounds of western Argentina! This new paper details the first attempt of these groups to invade reef environments, setting the stage for future success in the Mesozoic.

How much is a #Trex skeleton really worth? As the commercial value of these fossils continues to rise, a new study examines the ethical cost of the fossil trade, finding that the practice has effectively halved the sample size of #Tyrannosaurusrex available to scientists.

We’re going to need a bigger boat… A new study estimates that the iconic #Neogene shark Otodus #megalodon may have reached lengths of up to 24.3 meters—nearly 19% larger than previous estimates–and was more slender than earlier comparisons with modern white sharks suggest.

The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (JODA) preserves a fantastic record of Oregon's #Eocene and #Oligocene environments. A new study examines several JODA trackways to further understand fauna and their behaviors in these changing ecosystems.

Insects in amber, a #paleo classic! A new paper reports the first reliable fossil record of butterflies in #Eocene Baltic amber. This uniquely patterned egg resembles those of modern admiral butterflies, suggesting that their relatives are at least 35 million years old.

This new study turns over a new leaf in the #fossil record of the #Cretaceous of Northern Asia! Explore the morphological diversity and distribution of the #Menispermites, a genus of fossil leaves comprised of many short-lived species with limited ranges.

The everyday lives of extinct limbed animals are preserved within their footprints. #Fossil #trackways inform many scientific fields, creating distinct, sometimes conflicting terminologies. This new glossary defines a consistent, unambiguous terminology usable in all relevant fields.

How can we confirm the origin of fossil material as it disperses globally? Portable X-ray Fluorescence (#pXRF) links fossils to classical sites using their geochemical signature, though sometimes more sensitive instruments or additional techniques are needed.

Gomphotheres -- relatives of #elephants -- crossed Berung Sea land bridge & arrived in North America approximately 15 million years ago. Paper examines fossil record and evolutionary history in #Texas and revises their biochronology. Steven R. May Full #OpenAccess Paper: doi.org/10.26879/1404