Carbon isotope reveals a solely C3 biomass diet for gigantopithecus in
the early pleistocene of South China PhysOrg.com [USA], November 10,
2011
The extinct giant ape, Gigantopithecus blacki, is a species of large
hominoids that dominated the Pleistocene of South China. Its massive
mandible, large postcanine teeth and extremely thick enamel always spark
people's curiosity about what a diet for this giant ape was. The precise
diet and habitat of Gigantopithecus remains unknown so far. Drs. ZHAO
LingXia, ZHANG LiZhao and WU XinZhi, Institute of Vertebrate
Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and
ZHANG FuSong from Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy
of Sciences, analyze enamel stable carbon isotope values of G. blacki
and the associated mammalian megafauna from two sites in South China,
and find that this giant ape and other large mammals solely fed on C3
biomass, and lived in forest habitats, as reported in the journal of
Chinese Science Bulletin.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-carbon-isotope-reveals-solely-c3.html
Other paleo news:
Dinosaur species attracted mates similar to a peacock
PhysOrg.com [USA], November 9, 2011
A new study presented at the Society for Vertebrate Paleontology shows
that the Oviraptor dinosaur had a tail structure that allowed it to
shake its tail feathers, possibly to attract potential mates. Oviraptors
are a member of the theropod group of dinosaurs. Their tail structure is
similar to that of modern-day birds. Doctoral student Scott Persons from
the University of Alberta was studying this group of dinosaurs when he
discovered that the Oviraptors had a different and odd arrangement of
bones in the tail.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-dinosaur-species-similar-peacock.html
Hi-tech scans catch prehistoric mite hitching ride on spider
PhysOrg.com [USA], November 9, 2011
At just 176 micrometres long and barely visible to the naked eye,
University of Manchester researchers and colleagues in Berlin believe
the mite, trapped inside Baltic amber (fossil tree resin), is the
smallest arthropod fossil ever to be scanned using X-ray computed
tomography (CT) scanning techniques. They say their study � published
in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters today � also sets a
minimum age of almost 50 million years for the evolution among these
mites of phoretic, or hitchhiking, behaviour using another animal
species.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-hi-tech-scans-prehistoric-mite-hitching.html
Whale fossils show important characters of the transition to water
PhysOrg.com [USA], November 8, 2011
Decorative stone is often used in buildings for its strength and
durability but is not often thought of as a hiding place for fossils. If
not for an observant Italian stonecutter, a recently discovered fossil
whale specimen from Egypt might have become part of the edifice of some
new skyscraper rather than the focus of a scientific study. This fossil
skull and partial rib cage, described in the latest issue of the Journal
of Vertebrate Paleontology, show transitional features of a new species
of early whale and hint at how it became a fossil in the first place.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-whale-fossils-clues-transition.html
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