Because I don't recall anybody mentioning them before, and because I was listening to the pterosaur episode of the Monster Talk podcast today

Azhdarchids ( named after the Persian dragon Aži Dahāka ) were pterosaurs with long legs and extremely long necks. Most species of azhdarchids are known from these distinctive neck bones and not much else. ( Read more... )

Seems to be one of those things - you discover something new and suddenly you keep running into unrelated mentions of it. Such as discovering that such a taxonomic clade as Marrellomorphs even exist ( I didn't know that the 'Lace Crabs' of the Burgess Shales even had relatives! ) and within a day finding an artist you follow has been drawing ( Read more... )

I'm not sure if this has been posted yet. They made it public yesterday, but the fossil was found in 1974. More info in the link below.

Missing link found? Scientists unveil fossil of 47 million-year-old primate, Darwinius masillae


( Read more... )

dont know if this is exactly wtf but, its fascinating and i show that even then there was over fishing...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26442828/

Micronesian "hobbits" discredited by scientists who re-examined evidence.

( Read more... )

In today's edition of evolutionary WTF, we're going to meet the first ancient creature that really could enjoy long walks on the beach, the Tiktaalik:


( Read more... )

Say hi to your great great great great great great great (okay it goes on for a while but I'm going to stop here, just imagine a lot of greats) grandparents. Well actually, say hi to their fossils:


( Read more... )

aka Salt-and-Pepper Shakers


( Read more... )

Noting the earlier mention of ajolotes, I hasten to bring you an even stranger clade of burrowing beasties, the Caecilians! (Sadly the Apodan Amphibia are one of the groups Tree of Life haven't got around to doing yet)


( Read more... )