r/Naturewasmetal

https://xcancel.com/i/status/2056990456462884910

https://x.com/i/status/2056391037451698564

https://discord.com/channels/173172667623407616/697343104545718333/1504728855628480613

https://discord.com/channels/173172667623407616/697343104545718333/1487655814461132921

https://x.com/i/status/1947422769068511624

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammerschmiede\_clay\_pit

Hammerschmiede is a incredibly diverse site, preserving fossils that were deposited in a small stream and a medium sized river. It's biggest claim to fame is the discovery of Danuvius, a potentially already bipedal primate. Besides this the site has fascinating faunal composition. The seasonally dry, open woodland of Hammerschmiede has one of the largest carnivoran guilds, Chalicotheriinae and Schizotheriinae overlapping, tons of durophagous snapping turtles, the youngest choristoderes, giant cranes, basal pandas and two species of beaver.

https://xcancel.com/i/status/2055717479998230634

https://www.reddit.com/r/pleistocene/s/qONQPlxrUm

In these two masterful pieces by Julio Lacerda, we observe the same scene from two different perspectives. On one side, a group of giant sloths (Eremotherium laurillardi) begins its day searching for foliage. On the other, a pair of male platysmoses (Notiomastodon platensis) trudges along, also in search of food.

Amidst these extinct giants, other animals are present (those that still exist today): a giant anteater inspecting termite mounds, a three-banded armadillo digging in the ground, while a toco toucan and blue-throated or hyacinth macaws add splashes of color in the nascent light. A true window onto the past.

I think it's highly likely that Nanaimoteuthis primarily preyed on sizeable ammonites but an intelligent and active predator would take opporrtunities like this. The elasmosaur is scaled to about 6m with Nanaimo having a ML of 4m and total length of 14m.

https://xcancel.com/i/status/2056080595348832552

https://x.com/i/status/1680044812907470848

This scene, created by ddinodan_, likely takes place a few years or decades after the impact of asteroid K-Pg. The skies have finally cleared, the nuclear night is over, and Earth is beginning to heal. But for the non-avian dinosaurs, this "awakening" comes far too late.

All that remains of the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex is a bare skull, slowly being colonized by moss. A sapling grows directly through one of the skull's cavities, probably having drawn some of its nutrients from the remains of the fallen king. Right next to it, two small lizards bask peacefully in the sun. The giants have given way to the small opportunists. It is the beginning of a new era.

The average adult O. megalodon likely had a body shape similar to that of a typical Lamnidae shark, particularly the great white shark. While it is commonly assumed to have a body shape similar to the lemon shark, this is a reconstruction that ignores phylogeny.