12 amazing fossil finds of 2015

Meet the oldest supershark, the newest Arctic dinosaur, the Carolina Butcher and more

Archaeornithura meemannae illustration

FOSSIL FINDS  Archaeornithura meemannae, a 130-million-year-old bird, was one of several fossil finds to dazzle and intrigue scientists in 2015.

Zongda Zhang

From a spongelike speck to a bird built to terrify, 2015’s fossil finds added details, drama — and some real characters — to the story of life on Earth.