Extinct 'Megamouth' Shark Species Identified and Platypus-zilla' fossil unearthed

Extinct 'Megamouth' Shark Species Identified

by Tia Ghose, LiveScience

Scientists have finally identified a new species of megamouth shark that prowled the oceans about 23 million years ago, nearly 50 years after the first teeth were discovered and then forgotten.The ancient shark likely prowled both deep and shallow waters for plankton and fish, using its massive mouth to filter food.
read rest here:http://news.discovery.com/animals/sharks/extinct-magamouth-shark-species-indentified-131104.htm

Platypus-zilla' fossil unearthed in Australia

By Rebecca Morelle Science reporter, BBC World Service

Part of a giant platypus fossil has been unearthed in Queensland, Australia. Scientists have dubbed the beast "platypus-zilla" and believe it would have measured more than 1m long (3ft).Writing in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, the researchers say the creature lived between five and 15 million years ago.The discovery suggests the evolutionary back-story of today's platypus is more complicated Prof Mike Archer, from the University of New South Wales, said: "Suddenly up pops 'playtpus-zilla' - this gigantic monstrosity that you would have been afraid to swim with.

Read rest here:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24807557