Fossils

Fossil footprints found in Victoria by amateur palaeontologists have pushed back our understanding of when an early relative of most land-based creatures first evolved.

A study of a 100-million-year-old bone suggests the ancient relative of the echidna and the platypus was semiaquatic — and echidnas moved back to the land from the water as they evolved.

Scientists say the Duonychus is like a "giant feathered sloth" with "big, sharp and nasty claws".

The serendipitous discovery of an exquisitely preserved fossil near Gulgong in NSW provides a glimpse into the evolution of Australian fish around 15 million years ago when the area was a tropical lake.

Scientists say the discovery of 66 footprints on a rock at a Queensland high school are a huge breakthrough in understanding early Jurassic dinosaurs.

A 13-million-year-old species of turtle has been discovered after its fossil sat in a display case at an NT museum for decades. An expert says there could be countless more undiscovered animal fossils in their collection.

Researchers say the 166-million-year-old fossilised footprints could be one of the world's biggest dinosaur track sites.

A complete replica skeleton of Australia's largest mammalian predator can now be seen pouncing at tourists visiting South Australia's World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves.

The giant stegosaurus fossil, dubbed "Apex", is 3.3 metres tall and 8.2 metres nose to tail and is one of the most complete fossils of this type of dinosaur in existence.

In a fossil-rich pocket of northern New South Wales, two pioneering palaeontologists have spent decades digging up rare relics of the past, striking deals with collectors and opal miners and unlocking our understanding of deep geological history.

Researchers have discovered the oldest-known tadpole reported to date, a fossil from 161 million years ago found in Argentina. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of frogs and toads.

A fossilised tooth from the world's largest predator has been "chiselled" from a site on WA's World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Coast, angering scientists as well as the conservationist and writer.

The "fragmentary skeleton" found in north-western Venezuela showed deep bite marks around the snout.

When a UK palaeontologist examined rocks collected from rural west England in the 1990s, he found something unexpected: a tiny fossil with a perfectly preserved penis. 

Palaeontologists working near Alice Springs uncover for the first time a set of articulated bones and partial skeleton of Ilbandornis woodburnei, a massive bird that once roamed an evolving continent 8 million years ago.

About 150 million years after its death, the stegosaurus nicknamed Apex has been sold to a private buyer.

Scientists were taught that they would never find fossils in volcanic rock but a recent discovery shows the complete opposite.

Ever wondered how artists create images of dinosaurs and other extinct animals? We go behind the scenes with a palaeoartist to find out how he brought an ancient "giga-goose" to life from a pile of bones.

From filming in some of the most remote and inhospitable areas of Australia, to working with an A-list Hollywood actor, this is how the ABC Science team investigated what killed our ancient megafauna.

Towering birds, terrifying lizards and massive marsupials once roamed Australia. How much do you know about our mega-sized past?