Dinosaur's inner ear contains information about its lifestyle

The shape of the inner ear can tell scientists whether an animal was floating in the air, according to a study.

It flew only in fits and starts, walked on the ground, or sometimes swam. In some cases, the inner ear even indicates whether the species was involved in raising its young. 

The authors compiled a matrix of inner ear data for 128 species, including modern animals such as birds and crocodiles, as well as dinosaurs.

The authors wanted to determine whether the inner ear provides information about certain behaviors. In many cases, researchers have created 3D models from often destroyed skull fossils.

After collecting the data, the researchers found clusters of species with similar features to the inner ear. These species, according to the authors, have similar modes of movement and perception of the world.

Read more

Scientists have shown how a black hole tears apart a star

Elon Musk: the first tourists to Mars will die

Scientists have conducted the largest genetic study of super-longevity