New research suggests that ecological factors are influencing animal size evolution, contrary to Cope's rule. Intense competition can lead to the shrinking of species over time, explaining diverse fossil patterns. A study analyzing ancient climate and Gigantopithecus blacki's foraging habits indicates that the world's largest primate was too big and picky to adapt to changing forest conditions. The extinction of the largest known primate, a giant ape from China, resulted from its struggle to adapt to environmental changes. Several new species have been discovered, including a 'large'-mouthed river creature, a mountain creature with scaled wings in Chile, a 9-foot-tall 'giant ape' that mysteriously vanished, a winged creature with remarkable camouflage in Liberia, a pregnant creature with a 'window' in its eyelid found in India, and a translucent sea creature pregnant with orange eggs.
Translucent sea creature — pregnant with orange eggs — discovered as new species https://t.co/FHvsyENWp0
Pregnant creature — with a ‘window’ in its eyelid — found in India is a new species https://t.co/eIk1j93GrY
The extinction of the largest known primate, a giant ape from China, resulted from its struggle to adapt to environmental changes, according to a study in @Nature. https://t.co/krbo04zPg0 https://t.co/bgC5UhwVJ7
Winged creature — with ‘remarkable’ camouflage — discovered as new species in Liberia https://t.co/ZztVpjijzT
9-foot-tall ‘giant ape’ mysteriously vanished. Their caves may explain why, study says https://t.co/EuzAvDcspK
Mountain creature — with scaled wings — turns out to be new species in Chile. See it https://t.co/rUPCjwrdZ6
‘Large’-mouthed river creature — with ‘unique’ coloring — discovered as new species https://t.co/sMzvQzAG9R
A new evolutionary theory could explain the mystery of shrinking animals https://t.co/blvmaiSnYi
A new study analyzing ancient climate and Gigantopithecus blacki’s foraging habits suggest the world’s largest primate was simply too big—and too picky an eater—to adapt to changing forest conditions. https://t.co/GECxzGZuHw
Shrinking Evolution: Ecology Influences Animal Size New research reveals ecological factors shaping animal size evolution. Contrary to Cope’s rule, intense competition can shrink species over time, explaining diverse fossil patterns. https://t.co/KTNTXmcD0C https://t.co/KcfYJLtevP