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![Degu or Chilean Rat](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gP8Q5x37viYrw9JoUZtCZR-320-80.jpg)
Common degu: Oversized hamsters with societies governed by pee
By Lydia Smith published
Common degus clean themselves and communicate with urine, and they can detach their own tails to escape predators.
![Illustration of an early pterosaur flying with its tail vane.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UJxzPehKRFDefvmiqaHsdJ-320-80.jpg)
'Sexy' pterosaur tail should have been nightmare for flying. How did it work?
By Patrick Pester published
The first pterosaurs had a sail-like tensioning system for flying with potentially cumbersome tail vanes, which they could have used for displays, a new study finds.
![Artist reconstruction of Tameryraptor markgrafi.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B7HfkDCXb4U74VavuqefCY-320-80.jpg)
Giant horned dinosaur's fossils were destroyed in WWII — but photos reveal it was an unknown species
By Patrick Pester published
Scientists have unveiled a giant horned dinosaur from Egypt called Tameryraptor markgrafi after discovering lost photos of fossils destroyed in WWII.
![Fossils of the small cat species, Prionailurus kurteni (right) found in a cave in China. It was comparable in size with the smallest cats living today, such as the rusty-spotted cat (left).](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N733Y5UnVjPWbyeHKsemu9-320-80.jpg)
World's tiniest cat was a palm-sized tiddler that lived in China 300,000 years ago
By Emma Bryce published
Scientists identified the tiny species of cat from a fossilized jawbone, which could date back as far as 300,000 years ago.
![The head of Bathynomus vaderi.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dffcoq9LEnnfUwmvneenNY-320-80.jpg)
New supergiant 'Darth Vader' sea bug discovered in South China Sea — and it's absolutely massive
By Jacklin Kwan published
The giant isopod has been named Bathynomus vaderi due to its resemblance to Darth Vader's iconic helmet from "Star Wars."
![Skull of the new species of sauropodomorph dinosaur.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ueztizb5Ho8GxbY9dmShKQ-320-80.jpg)
Enormous skull of 200-million-year-old giant dinosaur discovered in China
By Richard Pallardy published
The well-preserved skull belongs to a never-before-seen species of sauropodomorph that potentially grew up to 33 feet long.
![A tongue-eating parasite inside a fish's mouth](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/g7acSFXaf4KjYJFCGfWTNU-320-80.jpg)
Why we need parasites, despite them leeching life from others
By Euan Ritchie published
An ecologist shares his passion for parasites. From their vital roles in nature, to strange super powers and extraordinarily complex life cycles, parasites are natural wonders worthy of protection.
![An illustration of two mosasaurs swiming underwater](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/K5WGqURL5JpB4PiiNf5dZ9-320-80.jpg)
'Red flags' raised over ancient sea monster pulled from Moroccan mine
By Jeanne Timmons published
A mosasaur species with saw-like teeth that was described by scientists in 2021 may have been based on forged fossils, and researchers are now calling for CT scans to determine the creature's origin.
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