A four-legged snake fossil shows the terrestrial origin of these reptiles – Eco News .com

 
 

In the field of science and specifically in terms of the origin of species is a recent discovery about to upset a number of things. A recent discovery of a fossil snake with four legs reopens the debate on the origin of reptiles.

This is a discovery that messes scientific knowledge. In Brazil, a fossil snake with four legs, a single specimen was recently unearthed, reports a study published Thursday in the journal Science . This discovery suggests that the ancestors of these reptiles had a terrestrial origin and not Navy.

A snake fossil relaunches debate on the origin of these animals

The discovery was made by some researchers in Brazil. Named Tetrapodophis amplectus, this snake fossil is a unique specimen of its kind. Beyond the discovery, it is especially the great debate and the various controversies that follow the discovery that interests many scientist. Finally, snakes-they have a marine or terrestrial origin?

One thing is sure, the Tetrapodophis amplectus has characteristics that lead some to say he lived under water. But it has many points of resemblance with snakes today: scales presences, rather flexible jaw, crooked teeth, elongated skull, short muzzle. Different traits that make believe that he is without doubt the ancestor of all existing snakes.

The missing species between snakes and lizards crawling

But besides these resemblance, its main feature is its four legs. According to researchers, they used during mating but also to be able to capture its different prey. Professor of Paleontology and co-author of the study, says David Martill meanwhile it is the ancestor of snakes and his teammates have unearthed him. David Martill, this discovery provides the missing species between snakes and lizards crawling. In addition, the team found that the fossil has a cylindrical shank says that one finds much more in land animals. Is Tetrapodophis amplectus more water or land? The debate is launched.

The only major difference Tetrapodophis with modern snakes are four legs that apparently were not used to move but to capture prey or during mating.

 

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