Stories by Riley Black

How Smilodon and other ice age carnivores changed the world around them

Paleogenetics confirm that the cave lion was a species all its own

This herbivorous giant adds to the story of Spain's dinosaurs

Trace fossils are not always what they seem

Believe it or not, the earliest known sabertooth was an herbivore.

This fossil cetacean adds resolution to when toothed whales started to see with sound

The way these carnivores titter isn't just for laughs

The Cretaceous eggs hint at how crocodile reproduction has changed through the ages

A single bone gives away the existence of a previously-unknown dinosaur in Brazil.

Osteoderms aren't just for personal protection

This ancient mammal was the tiniest marsupial lion.

Exquisite fossils reveal the form of these squishy seafarers

A new study tracks "the rise of ocean giants"

After decades in limbo this unique marine reptile finally gets a name

This unique fossil is a sign of a dire wolf's very, very bad day

An ancient tooth is the oldest evidence of megamouth sharks yet found

When did our ancestors first get furry?

This new pterosaur had a snaggletoothed jaw

Long before the origin of whales, boneworms fed on marine reptiles.

Where did tapirs come from? This fossil helps clue paleontologists in to the answer

Game of Thrones characters like Ghost are based on real wolves that used to roam the Americas

A warming climate and humans acted as a one-two punch

This relative of early hippos had impressive teeth.

Multihorned, saber-toothed herbivores set the stage for one of paleontology's greatest conflicts