News

Bavarian State Collection of Zoology Munich, 2025-12-1 – The dental development of modern bears does not follow the typical pattern seen in most mammals. The reason lies millions of years ago in the history of bear evolution. SNSB zoologists have identified two phases in bear evolution that are responsible for the differences in bear dentition. […]

Bavarian State Collection of PalaeoanatomyMunich, 2025-27-11 – Genomic analyses of cat remains retrieved from almost 100 archaeological sites across Europe and Anatolia show that domestic cats apparently only arrived in Europe from North Africa around 2000 years ago, and not, as previously assumed, with Neolithic farmers and livestock breeders from the Near East in the […]

ZoologyMunich, 2025-11-17 Genetic and morphological studies revealed two new chameleon species. One of them with a very long nose finally receives the scientific name that suits it – Calumma pinocchio. An international research team led by SNSB zoologist Frank Glaw has published its findings in the zoological journal Salamandra – German Journal of Herpetology. Madagascar […]

Bavarian State Collection of Botany & Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg Carnivorous plants of the genus Pinguicula (butterworts) from Mexico apparently use the same water-saving photosynthesis type as many succulent plants, such as cacti. Botanists from the SNSB and LMU Munich have now demonstrated CAM photosynthesis in carnivorous plants for the first time. The research team has […]

Bavarian State Collection of Palaeontology and Geology Munich, 2025-09-18 The giant bipedal spinosaurids from Africa apparently originated in Europe. This is shown by studies of newly discovered finds of the predatory dinosaur Camarillasaurus cirugedae from Spain. An international team led by SNSB paleontologist Oliver Rauhut has now published its findings in the journal Palaeontologia electronica. […]

Bavarian State Collection of Zoology Munich, 2025-09-17 Special 3D morphological analyses of mandibles show that the extinct bear Ursus minimus, one of Europe’s oldest bear species, had a broad diet without specializing in insects – contrary to previous assumptions. This made it particularly adaptable to shifting food availability. SNSB zoologist Anneke van Heteren has now […]

Geoscientist and paleontologist Dr. Serjoscha Evers will take over as scientific director of the Urwelt Museum Oberfranken on August 1, 2025. He succeeds his predecessor, Dr. Joachim Rabold, who headed the museum in Bayreuth’s pedestrian zone for 26 years. Dr. Serjoscha Evers’ research focuses on the evolution and neuroanatomy of reptiles, working in particular with […]

Bavarian State Collection of Palaeontology and Geology, July 2nd 2025 SNSB and LMU paleontologists identify a new ancient reptile from the Solnhofen limestone slabs. Thanks to a chance discovery: a PhD student recently found the counterpart of the original fossil at the Natural History Museum in London. The research team published their findings in the […]

Bayerische Staatssammlung Paläontologie und Geologie Munich, 01.07.2025Temperature combined with ocean currents have a significant influence on the distribution of marine life. These current patterns are shaped by the constant change in the distribution of land and sea on the Earth’s surface. In a new study, SNSB scientist Thomas A. Neubauer correlated over 3 million observations […]

Staatssammlung für Paläoanatomie, Munich, 31st January 2025 The rise of pastoralist peoples in the Eurasian steppes and their westward spread some 5,000 years ago may have been fuelled by sheep herding and exploiting their milkBy 8,000 years ago the team found evidence that farmers were deliberately selecting their flocks – for example, for the genes […]