New research on ancient Amber with ticks trapped within provides evidence that not only were the arachnids of ill repute around a hundred million years ago, but that dinosaurs were among their targets.
The discovery - detailed in new research published today in the journal Nature Communications - doesn't exactly provide the most glamorous vision of the Age of Dinosaurs, but it sheds a light on the fledgling evolution of ticks, giving us a rare snapshot of their world.
To further examine the tiny contents of the amber specimens, a team of researchers based out of Spain and the US used a couple of methods of zooming in to see what was inside.
All of this makes one thing quite clear: By 99 million years ago, ticks were already established parasites, plaguing dinosaurs as one of their earliest victims.
I enjoy film analysis (Movies with Mikey, Every Frame A Painting - RIP), some sciency stuff like minutephysics and the International Space Station livesteam, and I force everyone who comes into my home to experience Bondi Hipsters' Pipi Dance.
- Amber discovery shows 'Dracula' sucked blood of feathered dinosaursThe Express Tribune
- Dinosaur blood discovered inside 'Dracula' tick found perfectly preserved ...The Sun
- Ticks drank dinosaur blood before they drank ours, amber fossils showThe Verge
- Dinosaur parasites trapped in 100-million-year-old amber tell blood-sucking storyPhys.Org
- 99-Million-Year-Old Tick Preserved in Amber Likely Feasted on Feathered DinosaurFortune
- 100-million-year-old dinosaur fossil discovered with parasites still holding ...International Business Times, Singapore Edition
- Dinosaur Feather And Blood Discovered In Amber Fossils Show Parasites FeedingInternational Business Times
- Paleontologists say that ticks trapped in amber were likely sucking dinosaurs ...Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Jurassic Park to turn into reality? Study finds ticks in amber that fed on ...International Business Times, India Edition
