Source: Fortune
Summary
A new species of fossil reptile, Silescelida acristata, has been discovered in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state. The species lived around 240 million years ago during the Middle Triassic Period. The fossil was found in the UNESCO Quarta Colônia Geopark and provides important information about the evolution of archosauriformes, a group of reptiles that gave rise to archosaurs, including crocodiles and dinosaurs. The study was conducted by researchers from the Federal University of Santa Maria and other institutions.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story. The discovery of Silescelida acristata fills a gap in our understanding of the evolution of archosauriformes. The fossil’s femur, with its semi-erect position, suggests more efficient locomotion. The species’ phylogenetic relationship to the Euparkeriidae group is rare and expands the known geographic distribution of these animals. The fossil’s “rediscovery” after being lost for over two decades highlights the importance of fragmentary fossils in revealing fundamental information about evolution.
The announcement sounds like a story of scientific redemption, where a forgotten fossil gets a second chance to reveal its secrets.
Author: Evan Null
