#ancient oceans

[amnhnyc]

It’s Fossil Friday! If you’ve been inside the Museum’s Hall of Vertebrate Origins, you may have noticed this marine reptile hanging overhead. Meet Thalassomedon haringtoni, a long-necked plesiosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous some 85 million years ago. This behemoth had a relatively small head and many sharp teeth. Its long, flexible neck probably helped in grasping rapidly moving prey. Plesiosaurs, a group related to lizards, lived in the sea. Although they weren’t dinosaurs, they became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous around 65 million years ago, at the same time as the non-avian dinosaurs.

The Museum is open daily from 10 am–5:30 pm! Plan your visit.

Photo: © AMNH

[sequ0iart]

stylized paleozoic sea life scene, loosely based on some fossils my coworker gave me 🐌 (I tried to make it as accurate as possible but keep in mind I'm not a specialist. The different creatures are from different paleozoic eras moving chronologically from left to right)

[amnhnyc]

Welcome back to Trilobite Tuesday! Scientists think that trilobites first emerged in the Cambrian seas some 521 million years ago. Even their earliest forms—like this 4-in- (10.2-cm-) Elliptocephala from Nevada—were already highly advanced organisms, possessing hard outer shells, complex eyes, walking legs, as well as efficient respiratory and reproductive systems.

[amnhnyc]

It’s Trilobite Tuesday! Over the last three decades, Morocco has become an epicenter for trilobite discoveries, with hundreds of new species emerging from dozens of active quarry sites. Some of these specimens have been remarkable in their morphological complexity while others, like this crimson-toned Harpid, are notable for their unexpected color. Environmental factors, including the presence of specific minerals, can change the color of fossils to striking hues like this one.

[strangefacthub]

Ancient Oceans Had Monsters You Won't Believe

Introduction to Ancient Ocean MonstersDiscover what's happening now with Ancient Oceans Had Monsters You Won't Believe. You might have heard stories about legendary sea creatures, but did you know that researchers have found evidence of real-life monsters that lived in our oceans millions of years ago? From massive sharks to deep-sea creatures that defy explanation, the ancient oceans were home to some truly terrifying beasts.The Discovery of Monster Mega-Predator SharksResearchers have discovered a monster mega-predator shark that ruled the ocean before the megalodon. This monstrous shark, which predates whales, great whites, and even the bus-sized megalodon, is a reminder that our oceans have always been home to fearsome predators. But what's even more surprising is that these sharks were not just mindless killers - they played a crucial role in shaping the ocean's ecosystem.Deep-Sea Creatures That Will Make Your Skin CrawlIf a sponge could moonlight as a monster from a deep-sea horr...

Read the full article here

[rhysintherain]

"Reverse calamari - the calamari eats you!"

-- a thing an actual paleontologist said on a documentary

[universetoday]

Massive 400 Ft. Tsunamis On Ancient Mars

Massive 400 Ft. Tsunamis On Ancient Mars

About 3.4 billion years ago, (according to a new study) when the Late Heavy Bombardment had ended, and the first cells resembling prokaryotes were appearing on Earth, two enormous meteoroids slammed into the ancient, frigid ocean on Mars. These impacts generated massive 400 ft. high tsunamis that reshaped the shoreline of the Martian ocean, leaving behind fields of sediments and boulders.

It was…

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[99rifters-blog]

Attenborough explores ancient oceans in 'wonderful' VR 

Attenborough explores ancient oceans in 'wonderful' VR  #vr #ocean #firstlife #alchemyVR

If you thought the sound of Sir David Attenborough’s distinctive soothing tones playing over a closeup of an ant was immersive, you’re probably not ready for what’s coming next; Attenborough is now taking us 500 million years into the past and deep under the ocean surface in virtual reality film First Life, debuting at the Natural History Museum this June.

“To come face to face with ancient…

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