Science

Marine fossils in Colombia reveal possible evolutionary transition without mass extinction

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Briefings

Researchers at McGill University and CIP identified a diverse fossil ecosystem in central Colombia where Jurassic and Cretaceous lineages coexisted without mass extinctions, suggesting a possible evolutionary transition. This snapshot from 2026 highlights a unique geological record that challenges traditional extinction models.

Key points

• Researchers at McGill University and CIP identified a diverse fossil ecosystem in central Colombia where Jurassic and Cretaceous lineages coexisted without mass extinctions.
• The fossil record shows an unusual overlap between older Jurassic groups and newer Cretaceous lineages, indicating a potential evolutionary pathway that avoids extinction events.

Context

This finding challenges established models of evolutionary change by demonstrating that major transitions can occur without triggering mass extinctions, offering insights into biodiversity dynamics in the late Cretaceous period.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to a single fossil ecosystem in central Colombia; the study does not provide broader geographic context or comparative data from other regions.

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