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News
Giant marine reptile found in the UK could be the largest ever discovered
A fossil jawbone, which may belong to the largest marine reptile ever discovered, has been found in Somerset.
19 April 2024 -
Science news
Snakes’ rapid evolution might be the secret of their success
They might not have legs, but snakes are outpacing their relatives in the race to evolve.
22 February 2024 -
News
‘Skin’ of ancient reptile was painted on, new research claims
A new study of Tridentinosaurus suggests that preserved skin is just black paint.
16 February 2024 -
Science news
New pterosaur from Skye reveals the hidden diversity of the Middle Jurassic
Discovered in Scotland, Ceoptera evansae has been named as a new species of pterosaur.
6 February 2024 -
News
Ancient plant species revealed to be fossilised baby turtles
A case of mistaken fossil identity has been resolved after 20 years.
11 December 2023 -
News
Young tyrannosaurs may have eaten completely different food to their parents
An extraordinary dinosaur fossil has revealed what young tyrannosaurs were eating over 70 million years ago.
8 December 2023 -
Science news
Unravelling the surprisingly complex history of crocodiles
Crocodiles have a deep and varied evolutionary past.
17 November 2023 -
News
New species of big-thumbed dinosaur discovered in Mongolia
Jaculinykus yaruui is thought to have dug for food using an enormous thumb on each hand.
16 November 2023 -
Science news
There is a sex bias in amphibian and reptile natural history collections
More surprising is that the vast majority of herpetology records are unsexed.
20 October 2023 -
Science news
Discovery of Moroccan fossil footprints points to unknown dinosaur diversity
Researchers are hot on the trail of Morocco’s missing dinosaurs.
27 September 2023 -
Science news
Identity of Jurassic plesiosaur fossils from Dorset could finally be revealed
Though the Portland plesiosaur made headlines in the 1960s, it has never been formally described.
21 September 2023 -
News
New species of Triassic reptile reveals lifestyle of ancient pterosaur relatives
The new species, named Venetoraptor gassenae, suggests that the lagerpetids were more diverse than previously realised.
17 August 2023 -
News
Crocodiles might understand how upset ape babies are
Nile crocodiles may have a limited ability to understand our emotions.
9 August 2023 -
Oceans
A deep dive into sea snakes, sea kraits and their aquatic adaptations
Sea snakes are often feared. But are they dangerous or do we just need to get to know them better?
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Oceans
Sea turtles: serene marine marvels and how we affect them
How much do you know about these incredible marine reptiles?
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News
Australian lizard species rediscovered following extinction fears
The Victorian grassland earless dragon was last seen in 1969, but recent surveys of its habitat have revealed new populations of the species.
27 June 2023 -
News
Fossil reveals smallest sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Jurassic
The ancient relative of some of the largest ever animals may have been lighter than some humans.
14 June 2023 -
News
New flying gecko species reveals hidden biodiversity of northern India
The oldest group of lizards has just gained their newest member.
12 June 2023 -
Science news
X-rays identify a 240-million-year-old mystery fossil
An ichthyosaur fossil found in Svalbard is finally revealing its secrets 15 years after it was discovered.
9 June 2023 -
News
New species of spinosaur suggests the predators co-existed in western Europe
Protathlitis cinctorrensis is the latest to be discovered in Spain, adding to the evidence that spinosaurs first evolved in Europe.
18 May 2023 -
Science news
Crushed Scottish fossils reconstructed to reveal ancient predator's skull
Digital reconstructions of broken fossils have revealed more about the life of an ancient crocodile-like predator.
2 May 2023 -
Science news
Earliest ichthyosaur fossil discovered on remote Arctic Island
New research suggests that ichthyosaurs may have pre-dated the age of the dinosaurs after surviving Earth's largest mass extinction event.
18 April 2023 -
Science news
First British fossils of therizinosaur and troodontid dinosaurs are world's oldest
The isolated teeth were identified using machine learning models, and could represent some of the earliest relatives of birds ever discovered.
14 April 2023 -
Collections
Hidden Treasures: Season two of our behind-the-scenes live streams
Explore our collections and discover some of the many specimens you won't see on a regular visit to the Museum.
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News
Snake that cartwheels away from predators described for the first time
The dwarf reed snake startles potential threats before using a burst of speed to disappear into the undergrowth.
6 April 2023 -
Dinosaurs
The Cretaceous Period: What was Earth like before dinosaurs went extinct?
The Cretaceous Period is famous for ending with a massive asteroid impact, but what was our planet like in the millions of years before that?
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News
Dinosaurs may have had scaly 'lips' to protect their teeth from damage
Rather than keeping them permanently exposed, like crocodiles, a new study suggests the teeth of theropods would have been kept behind lips.
30 March 2023 -
Dinosaurs
Why were dinosaurs so big? The secrets of titanosaurs' super size
Dinosaurs are the largest land animals to ever live. Titanosaurs were the biggest of them all. Explore how they were able to grow to such a size.
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Science news
Longest ever necked dinosaur discovered in China
The discovery was made three decades after the species was first uncovered as scientists try to understand more about how sauropods evolved in what is now eastern Asia.
15 March 2023 -
News
'Unusually high' number of turtle strandings in the UK and Ireland
While these strandings are thought to be the result of an unseasonably stormy year, climate change could make them more common in future.
27 February 2023 -
Dinosaurs
What was the biggest dinosaur?
Get to know some of the largest dinosaurs to have ever walked the planet.
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News
Carnivorous dinosaur footprint is the largest found in Yorkshire
A fossil found in northern Britain is revealing insights into the behaviour of a 166-million-year-old carnivorous dinosaur.
16 February 2023 -
News
Spinosaur brain scans reveal possible new insights into their senses
It may have been a case of matter over mind for dinosaurs which lived around water.
14 February 2023 -
News
Fossilised nests of the world's largest dinosaur discovered in India
More than 250 titanosaur eggs have been uncovered in India, revealing more about the lives of some of the largest animals which ever lived.
18 January 2023 -
Science news
New species of large tortoise discovered after a century of mistaken identity
Though it may have gone extinct over 600 years ago, understanding more about Astrochelys rogerbouri could help to save its living relatives.
11 January 2023 -
British wildlife
Where do animals go during the long, cold, dark winter?
Winter is a time where many animals conserve their energy, fly south or grow a thicker coat.
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News
Ankylosaurs may have used their tail clubs to fight each other, not predators
Competition between ankylosaurs may be responsible for their iconic tail clubs.
7 December 2022 -
Science news
Gloucestershire fossil suggests modern lizards could have Triassic origins
A new species of extinct lizard has been described from the Museum's collections.
2 December 2022 -
News
Europe's largest ever turtle species has been discovered
Measuring almost four metres in length, Leviathanochelys aenigmatica reveals that giant turtles were more common than previously thought.
17 November 2022 -
News
Rediscovered casts bring back historic ichthyosaur fossil destroyed in war
The first complete ichthyosaur skeleton has resurfaced, despite being thought destroyed during World War Two.
2 November 2022 -
Science news
Exceptional Jurassic fossil lizard sheds light on early lizard evolution
The most complete Jurassic fossil lizard ever found has been discovered in Scotland.
26 October 2022 -
News
Mummified dinosaur could show evidence of scavenging by ancient crocodiles
Scavengers could help to preserve the soft tissue of the ancient reptiles by removing flesh and fluid from the body shortly after death.
13 October 2022 -
Science news
Scottish fossil reveals clues about the earliest pterosaurs
Living over 200 million years ago, Scleromochlus helps to show how ancient reptiles took their first steps towards flight.
5 October 2022 -
Science news
Small fossil reptile could help to explain large evolutionary mystery
The description of an extinct lizard-like animal may help reveal why its kind were rapidly pushed to the edge of extinction.
15 September 2022 -
News
Gliding reptiles have been taking to the skies for 260 million years
Researchers have reconstructed one of the first gliding reptiles in extraordinary detail.
12 September 2022 -
Science news
'Bird-hipped' Jurassic dinosaur was one of the first to live in herds
As the world recovered from a volcanic extinction event, Lesothosaurus may have banded together to help ward off predators.
25 August 2022 -
News
New dinosaur species reveals short arms evolved repeatedly in theropods
The tiny arms of Tyrannosaurus rex may bring ridicule, but a new dinosaur reveals they were part of a much larger trend.
7 July 2022 -
News
Giant ichthyosaur fossils reveal the last days of Triassic marine reptiles
Some of the largest animals that ever lived retained their size right up until they were wiped out 200 million years ago.
29 April 2022 -
News
More than a fifth of reptiles are threatened with extinction
Habitat loss and human persecution are the key drivers of their decline, with crocodiles and turtles most at risk.
27 April 2022 -
News
Pterosaurs may have had coloured feathers similar to birds
The world's first flying vertebrates may also have been some of the biggest show-offs.
20 April 2022 -
News
Mystery of how Boa constrictor breathes while crushing prey solved
The snakes can move their ribs independently to suck in air while others are constricting.
24 March 2022 -
News
Spinosaurus and Baryonyx may have hunted fish underwater
Spinosaurs were some of the only dinosaurs that spent much of their lives in water.
23 March 2022 -
News
Potential new species of giant tortoise discovered in the Galápagos Islands
There is currently not enough evidence to prove they are a genuine new species, or just a distinct population of an existing one.
14 March 2022 -
Science news
Lizard lifestyle has no impact on their biting force
Even the most carnivorous lizard can bite no harder than herbivores of the same size, Museum researchers have found.
23 February 2022 -
News
Fossils suggest dinosaurs could get ill from respiratory disease
The neck of a diplodocid shows evidence of a disease that still affects birds today.
10 February 2022 -
News
Crocodiles prefer aquatic meals after toxic toad invasion
Scientists believe that the behavioural change may help the reptiles wash away poison from the cane toad, an amphibian which has decimated Australian biodiversity.
26 January 2022 -
News
Britain's largest ever ichthyosaur is discovered in Rutland Water
The largest and most complete ichthyosaur ever found in the UK has been unearthed in the nation's smallest county.
10 January 2022 -
News
Velociraptor relative that ambushed dinosaurs is a new species
The first large raptor to ever be discovered in the UK has been described as a new species.
8 January 2022 -
Science news
Dinosaur tracks on Welsh beach are evidence of sauropod gathering
A series of tracks on a public beach point to the presence of large, long-necked dinosaurs in Wales over 200 million years ago.
29 December 2021 -
Biodiversity
Christmas animals and plants: The festive species named for 25 December
Over 30 species globally are named for Christmas Day, recognising their bright colours, place of origin or reproductive cycle.
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News
The largest-ever flying animal behaved like a giant heron
The largest-ever flying animal acted like a giant heron, plucking prey from the water and launching itself into the air.
15 December 2021 -
Science news
The earliest snakes didn't have tunnel vision
The ancestor of modern snakes was not the extreme burrower some thought it to be, adding to the controversial debate about the origin of snakes.
10 December 2021 -
News
Early crocodile ancestor shows how the reptiles became feared aquatic predators
An ancient relative of modern crocodiles and alligators shows that their semi-aquatic lifestyle dates back over 150 million years.
9 December 2021 -
What on Earth?
What happens when you’re bitten by a venomous snake?
Snakebite is one of the world’s deadliest neglected health issues. But what does venom actually do to you?
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News
Largest known Triceratops fossil sells for £5.6 million
The largest Triceratops ever found has sold for over £5 million in an auction that has caused controversy.
22 October 2021 -
News
Explosion in snake diversity after dinosaur extinction
Snakes saw an explosion in diversity after the dinosaurs were wiped out by an asteroid, researchers have found.
24 September 2021 -
Anthropocene
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: the return of the gharials
In a conservation success story, gharials are slowly coming back to the rivers of India and Nepal - but sand extraction practices threaten their long-term survival.
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Science news
New species of snake described with the help of a 185-year-old painting
The new species is now known as Joseph's racer, was first collected in the mid-nineteenth century.
13 May 2021 -
What on Earth?
What is the biggest snake in the world?
Which is bigger, an anaconda or a python? Discover some of the world's giant snakes.
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What on Earth?
Marine iguanas: the incredible shrinking lizards of the Galápagos
Growth is usually thought of as from small to large, but marine iguanas occasionally do the opposite.
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British wildlife
Why road verges are important habitats for wildflowers and animals
They cover an enormous area of the UK and are home to many rare and declining wild plants, insects, amphibians and more.
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British wildlife
Slow worms: Britain's most unusual lizards
If you see a snake blink at you, it's not a snake.
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Science news
Turtles have lived for 230 million years - but will they survive climate change?
Tracking the diversity of turtles could also give us clues as to how they might respond to increasing pressures in the future.
22 May 2020 -
Science news
First fossils of crocodile-like phytosaurs from southern Africa
The Triassic reptiles were found in Zimbabwe.
23 January 2020 -
Science news
Dragon-like reptiles with huge heads and ‘steak knife’ teeth lived before the dinosaurs
The carnivores walked on four legs and looked like modern-day Komodo dragons.
20 November 2019 -
Dinosaurs
The Triassic Period: the rise of the dinosaurs
What was life like during the Triassic Period?
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Science news
An array of new snakes from India have been described
The new species highlight how much more there still is to learn about India's herpetofauna.
16 August 2019 -
News
A series of Mary Anning films are about to hit the cinemas
Pioneering woman palaeontologist to hit cinema screens soon.
4 July 2019 -
Science news
This is how the ancestor of modern snakes could have looked
What can we learn from scanning snakes?
3 July 2019 -
Dinosaurs
Franz Nopcsa: the dashing baron who discovered dwarf dinosaurs
Nopcsa was ahead of his time, publishing many creative scientific theories on dinosaurs and other reptiles. He was also a spy and a would-be king.
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Science news
Over 270 new species discovered in 2018
They include new dinosaurs, an ancient wombat and a giant shark.
27 December 2018 -
News
Mary Anning Rocks: the campaign for a statue of the palaeontologist in Lyme Regis
A campaign group have attracted national attention for their quest to get her permanently commemorated.
21 May 2022 -
Collections
Attenborosaurus: a celebrity reptile
This long-necked skeleton is Attenborosaurus, an extinct marine reptile named after legendary broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.
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Patrick Campbell on being young and black in science
When Patrick started caring for the Museum's fish specimens, he became one of the institution's first black curators.
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British wildlife
British snakes: Are there dangerous reptiles in the UK?
There are four species of snake found in Britain - but are they dangerous to people?
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Science news
Two new species of Indian lizard described by Museum scientist
The discovery is expected to be followed up by more new species.
1 August 2018 -
Science news
Measuring the teeth of an ancient reptile
Scientists have peered inside the tooth of the extinct reptile Eilenodon.
13 June 2018 -
Watch a pterosaur fly
This animal is Anhanguera, a flying reptile that lived with the dinosaurs. Have a look at how it might have flown.
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What on Earth?
Face-to-face with spitting cobras
Have you ever seen a cobra spit venom in super slow motion?
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Science news
245-million-year-old reptile finally gets a name
Scientists have formally given an ancient reptile a name, over 80 years since its fossils were found in Tanzania.
29 March 2018 -
Collections
Mary Anning: the unsung hero of fossil discovery
Mary was a pioneering palaeontologist and fossil collector. Her lifetime was a constellation of firsts.
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What on Earth?
Mastering venom
From snake-filled projectiles and medieval remedies to the very first antivenom, our relationship with venomous creatures has a colourful history.
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Behind the scenes: The making of Venom
Go behind the scenes to find out what it takes put on a major exhibition at the Museum.
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What on Earth?
Gila monster: meet the lizard whose venomous bite is saving lives
Find out how the Gila monster's venom has the ability to save lives.
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News
Fearsome Jurassic crocodile named after Motörhead's Lemmy
Scientists have named a fearsome prehistoric crocodile after Motörhead frontman Lemmy.
8 August 2017 -
News
Study sheds light on snake vision
The first major study into the genes that control vision in snakes has found that the reptiles match their vision to their lifestyles.
15 September 2016 -
Oceans
Chasing sea snakes in Australia
Dr Bruno Simões tells us how he pursued sea snakes from the mangroves to the open ocean to learn about their vision.
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News
Snake from Ethiopia identified as new viper species
A team of scientists led by Museum researchers have identified and named a new species of viper, Bitis harenna, that lives in Ethiopia’s Bale Mountains National Park.
21 March 2016 -
News
New highly venomous snake species discovered in Australia
A team led by a Museum scientist has discovered a new species of Australian death adder in the Kimberley region of the country.
28 August 2015 -
News
Jurassic sea crocs lived similar lives to their modern relatives
The lifestyles of extinct marine crocs mirror those of today's living groups.
15 October 2014