Sabretooth's surprising weak bite

"The sabretooth tiger may have looked a fearsome sight with its massive canines but its reputation takes something of a knock with a new piece of research. Scientists who have studied the extinct creature's skull in detail say it had a relatively weak bite - compared with, say, a modern lion."

Read the full article online at BBC News

Paleontology Photography

See these pictures and more at my new photography portfolio.

http://palaeo_portfolio.carbonmade.com/

Velociraptor had feathers

Feathers aren't usually fossilized, but there are other clues that would indicate whether or not an animal had feathers. Apparently, Velociraptor is among those now. Someone call Spielberg!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070920145402.htm

Science Daily — A new look at some old bones have shown that velociraptor, the dinosaur made famous in the movie Jurassic Park, had feathers. The discovery was made by paleontologists at the American Museum of Natural History and the Field Museum of Natural History.

Unusual prehistoric shark beast captured in Japan

Article from mongabay.com
January 24, 20007



A rare frilled shark was captured live by fishermen off the coast of Japan. The toothy eel-like creature was taken to Awashima Marine Park in Shizuoka where it later died according to Reuters.

The 5-foot (1.6 meter) long beast was believed to be ill because it was found in shallow waters. Generally the species, known as Chlamydoselachus anguineus, lives at a depth of 488-4550 feet (150-1400 m). It is considered a primitive shark, largely unchanged since prehistoric times.

"We believe moving pictures of a live specimen are extremely rare," Reuters quoted an official at the park as saying. "They live between 600 and 1000 metres under the water, which is deeper than humans can go. We think it may have come close to the surface because it was sick, or else it was weakened because it was in shallow waters."

New dig boots!

Went to the army-navy surplus store the other day and bought meself some new boots for the upcoming dig season and beyond. They're good looking and are comfortable. They also sport these interesting ridges on the bottom of the shoe, which will hopefully help me climb up steep ledges with loose sediment.