Fossil fish shows oldest live birth

Fossil fish shows oldest live birth (PhysOrg.com) — A 380-million-year-old fossil fish that shows an unborn embryo and umbilical cord has been discovered, scientists report in the journal Nature. The extremely rare specimen shows incredible detail. The umbilical cord is attached to an area of small bones, corresponding to the embryo. This means the fish … Read more

“Sea Monster” Fetus Found—Proof Plesiosaurs Had Live Young?

“Sea Monster” Fetus Found—Proof Plesiosaurs Had Live Young? Prehistoric reptiles gave birth to live young, fossil suggests. Like whales, humans, and most other mammals, plesiosaurs—giant, long-necked marine reptiles of dinosaur times—gave birth to live young, a new fossil study suggests. Even as it apparently solves one mystery, though, the finding raises another: Did the “sea … Read more

Look Ma! No eggs. This ancient reptile birthed live young

Look Ma! No eggs. This ancient reptile birthed live young Researchers thought that archosauromorph reptiles only ever laid eggs, but this new fossil may prove them wrong. Live birth: Most mammals do it, some lizards and snakes do it, but archosaurs – a reptilian group that includes crocodiles and birds – don’t… or so biologists … Read more

Fossil reveals ichthyosaurs gave birth to live young

Eight fossilized embryos have been discovered in a pregnant ichthyosaur fossil that was first found in 2011, revealing that these reptiles gave birth to live offspring instead of laying eggs. The embryos are so tiny that at first, the researchers were unsure if they were embryos or just the remnants of the aquatic reptile’s stomach … Read more