'We called it the 'strange beast' because we didn't know what it was.'
of a skull that was covered in a thick, hard layer of keratin, the protein found in human fingernails. It also sported an incredibly stout neck."It looked so odd." Now, more than a quarter-century later, Meng and a team of colleagues have finally figured out what the strange beast was — and why its head was protected by a helmet-like structure.
In the decades since the initial discovery, researchers have collected fossils from more than 50 different species of mammals that died near the location where Meng made the initial discovery. Careful analysis of those remains has finally revealed the Strange Beast's identity. The creature was a long-lost cousin of the modern giraffes. But instead of a long neck, this extinct giraffoid sported a short, thick neck and protective headgear that was perfectly suited to head-butting.
Meng, who is now curator-in-charge of mammal fossils at the American Museum of Natural History, and several co-authors describe the find in anTiny clues helped researchers make the connection. But Meng says he and his collaborators found"several lines of evidence showing that this is a species related to a giraffe." Some of the best evidence came from the teeth. The new species'"dental morphology is similar to that of what we see in living giraffes," he says.
That isn't all. New methods made it possible for researchers to look inside some of the fossils to identify subtle similarities that just weren't accessible to researchers in the 1990s when the first fossils were discovered."Thanks to advances in technology, we can now do a CT scan of this creature," Meng says. Those scans allowed researchers to"see the shape and the structure of the cochlear and semicircular canal," deep in the ear.
"The neck is incredible," Meng says. Researchers have never seen anything quite like it. For most mammals, the main job of the vertebra that attaches to the skull, which is called the atlas, is to support the head. For a few species, the atlas and the vertebrae beneath it play another very important role.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
17 Swimsuits Worth the Awkward Tan LinesSince you want to spend more time planning your vacation than shopping for it, we’ve searched high and low for the best cute swimwear to add to your suitcase
Read more »
NBA Finals: Celtics go on 17-0 fourth quarter run to hand Warriors Game 1 lossSAN FRANCISCO — Despite a NBA Finals record six first-quarter 3-pointers from Steph Curry and an impressive third quarter in which Golden State outscored Boston by 14 points, the Warriors col…
Read more »
17-year-old apprehended while trafficking five immigrantsThe Cochise County Sheriff's Office arrested a 17-year-old US citizen for transporting five undocumented immigrants.
Read more »
Elgin man charged with fiery crash that killed 17-year-old passengerRaymond Griffin allegedly lost control of the vehicle — causing it to roll over. The vehicle came to a rest on the roof, and it became engulfed in flames. Byron Montgomery, the 17-year-old passenger in the vehicle, was killed.
Read more »
New fire safety laws aim to prevent another tragedy, like Bronx high-rise blaze that killed 17Mayor Eric Adams is set to sign new fire legislation into law Wednesday, in wake of the deadly blaze that killed 17 people in the Bronx.
Read more »