Stories by Riley Black

Distinctive teeth mark the discovery of a new prehistoric shark species

For the first time, researchers spot a black maned wolf

A skull from Ecuador represents a rare fossil of a tropical dolphin

Utah is famous for its Jurassic and Cretaceous dinosaurs, but the Triassic species remain elusive

This beautifully-preserved dinosaur caps off a year of small, feathery finds.

Parallel trackways in Mexico may preserve a social moment in dinosaur history

This ancient marine reptile alters the deep history of plesiosaurs.

A pterosaur nesting ground is a bonanza for paleontologists

This ancient beast was a carnivorous koala cousin

Dinosaurs didn't crack under stress, but the hard times affected their eggs

An ancient baleen whale adds to the story of an enigmatic group of fossil cetaceans

A new analysis underscores that American mastodon were flexible feeders

An unusual giant sloth helps track the movement of these shuffling beasts through the Americas.

An unusual monkey-lizard shows off a surprising skull. 

A dinosaur found in Utah underscores connections between ancient North America and Europe

Genetic analysis of sabercat bones has yielded some surprises.

A well-preserved fossil beast gives paleontologists new insights into giraffe evolution

Mysterious scratch marks indicate nonavian dinosaurs might have displayed like modern birds

Saber-toothed kittens were muscle-bound compared with other cats their age

A new analysis rearranges the family tree of huge, earthbound avians

Though not the prettiest fossil, an ancient skull reveals a new species of marine crocodile.

A new analysis offers an updated look for the classic dinosaur

Delicately-preserved fossils alter what paleontologists thought about how trilobites digested their food.

Part of a jaw reveals a new species of carnivore from ancient Africa