UN: Nearly half of migratory species are in decline as global extinction risks rise
More than a fifth of migratory species are threatened with extinction, with habitat loss and overexploitation being the biggest threats.
97% of listed migratory fish are at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and overexploitation, climate change, pollution, and invasive species. [ more ]
Gigantopithecus blacki, the largest known primate, went extinct between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago due to its inability to adapt to a changing climate.
The changing climate led to a reduction in the availability of fruit, the main food source for Gigantopithecus, causing them to turn to less nutritious fallback foods.
The dietary changes resulted in reduced mobility and foraging range, leading to a decline in population and eventual extinction. [ more ]
Elephant-Sized Apes That Once Roamed the Land Mysteriously Vanished. Now, Scientists Have an Answer.
Giant apes the size of elephants called Gigantopithecus blacki went extinct between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago due to their inability to adapt to a rapidly-changing climate.
This new study published in Nature used multiple techniques to study fossils and other evidence from cave sites in China to solve the long-standing mystery of the apes' demise. [ more ]
Gigantopithecus blacki, the largest known primate, went extinct due to a change in its forest habitat and a lack of nutritious food.
The extinction of Gigantopithecus blacki occurred earlier than previously thought, before the forest thinned out and in response to a changing plant community. [ more ]
Ancient predatory worms have scientists rethinking the history of life on Earth : Short Wave
Predatory worms with unique features lived in the water 500 million years ago, surprising researchers by resurfacing in the fossil record after a supposed extinction. [ more ]
That giant extinct shark, Megalodon? Maybe it wasn't so mega
Scientists are studying the Megalodon to understand its biology and the role large carnivores play in marine ecosystems.
New research suggests that the Megalodon may have been more slender than previously thought, which would alter our understanding of its behavior and impact on the ocean ecosystem. [ more ]