New Child-Size Human Found – Homo floresiensis

 The Indonesian island of Flores is the site where the bones of a new human were found in a cave.  The full grown 3 foot tall lived 13,000 years ago.  They made tools and hunted pygmy elephants.  Modern humans have also been found there and the two groups may have mingled.  Could this be another example of an animal shrinking in an island environment with poorer resources?   They believe that some features are like those found in the 1.8 MY old finds in Dmanisis in Georgia.  The photo below is from the web and shows the new Homo floresiensis species on the left compared to Homo sapiens.  (Nature)

                New Dromaeosaur from Liaoning – Graciliraptor

 This new fossil from the Early Cretaceous consists of a partial maxilla with some teeth, some caudals, almost complete forelimbs and partial hind limbs.  This fossil is the earliest definitive dromaeosaurid species known and has some features like basal birds such as elongated caudals, and is also similar to troodontid dinosaurs in some features.  It is 3 MY older than another early form, Sinornithosaurus.  It has been named Graciliraptor lujiatunensis for its slender limbs and tail and the species name is for its location near Lujiatun.  Its closest relatives so far are Sinornithosaurus and Microraptor, both also from Liaoning and suggesting high diversification of dromaeosaurids at that time.  It is believed to be an adult based on the partial fusion of the astragulus and calcaneum to the tibia.  The partial front teeth do not show serrations, but the tops of the teeth are missing and could have been serrated.  The middle and posterior teeth have larger serrations on the back edge compared to the front edge like velociraptorines.  The slight build of this animal represents an important evolutionary tendency towards birds and flight.  (Xu & Wang in Acta Geol Sin, 2004)

                    Feathered Embryo Found in China

 The earliest unborn bird ever found is reported from China (where else?) by Angela Milner of London’s Natural History Museum.  This 121 MY old fossil is still tucked inside the egg with its head down by its feet.  They were surprised to find that the bird was covered with relatively advanced feathers and its bones were all formed.  This bird was prococial like chickens and ducks which are born downy and competent to feed themselves after birth.  This contrasts with altricial birds like songbirds that are featherless and helpless at birth.  This may mean that birds developed the strategy of hatching featherless later in their history.  (Science)

                  New Giant Ape Found in Africa

 In the north of the Congo new apes with characteristics of gorillas and chimpanzees have been spotted.  They are reported to be ferocious and have been seen killing lions.  A new primate would be very important for research.  They are as big as gorillas (up to 6.5 feet tall and 224 pounds) and also nest on the ground instead of in trees.  However, they live far from gorillas and have a diet more similar to chimps.  Primatologist Shelly Williams is the only scientist that has seen them and was almost attacked by 4 of them.  They could be a new species of ape, giant chimps or hybrids of gorillas and chimps.  More research is planned.  (New Scientist)

                   Jane Update from Burpee

 All of Jane’s bones are now free from the matrix and most of the145 bones they found have been molded and cast.  They are being mounted by Research Casting International (RCI) in Canada and the real bones will be exhibited in a special frame so that each bone can be removed for study.  They plan to unveil Jane in June 2005 as a new exhibit titled “Jane: Diary of a Dinosaur”.  All of the bones have been CTscanned so that their internal structure can be studied.  Jane’s skull will be reconstructed and unveiled at PaleoFest at Burpee in February 2005.  In addition they are planning a symposium of tyrannosaurs in September 2005 with all the experts participating and with a book including these contributions.  They still are not saying for sure what Jane is, but Nanotyrannus does pop up in their newsletter.  (Out of the Rock, Autumn 2004)

          9,800 Eggs to be Displayed at new Chinese Museum

 The first dinosaur museum in China is scheduled to open in 3 years in eastern Guangdong Province in the city of Heyuan.  It will cost an estimated $61 million and will display 9,800 dinosaur eggs that have been unearthed in the area along with dino bones. (China Daily on the web)

           Karen Nordquist, ESCONI Paleontology Study Group