Ancient Lizard Claims Its Title as Oldest of Its kind
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
The World’s Oldest Lizard: A Fossil Fight Settled
A tiny fossil skull,discovered in England and dating back 200 million years,has been at the center of a scientific debate. The revelation of *Cryptovaranoides*, a lizard-like reptile, sparked a disagreement about its proper classification. Now, a team of researchers from the University of Bristol believes they’ve settled the ongoing fossil fight. The Bristol researchers argue that *Cryptovaranoides* belongs to the Squamata order – the group that includes lizards and snakes. They identified a series of key skeletal features that place the ancient reptile squarely within this group. “We ran the analysis time after time, and it gave our original result, that the little Bristol reptile is indeed the world’s oldest modern-type lizard,” says Bristol geologist David Whiteside. The team’s findings challenge a previous classification by another research group, who suggested *Cryptovaranoides* belonged to a different group called archosauromorpha. The Bristol researchers counter that this classification would require dismissing numerous anatomical features that clearly link *Cryptovaranoides* to lizards and snakes. The implications of this discovery are significant. It pushes back the origins of modern lizards by millions of years, providing a fascinating glimpse into the early evolution of this diverse group of reptiles. As *Cryptovaranoides* scurried unnoticed amongst the feet of dinosaurs, it was unknowingly leaving behind a legacy that would ignite a scientific debate centuries later.A Key to Lizard Evolution
Knowing where *Cryptovaranoides* fits into the evolutionary tree helps scientists better understand the relationships between different reptile groups. This tiny fossil offers a valuable piece of the puzzle,illuminating the path that led to the unbelievable diversity of lizards and snakes we see today. The research, published in the journal *Royal Society Open Science*, adds another chapter to the fascinating story of life on Earth.## Archyde Exclusive: Unearthing the Oldest Lizard
**Today we are joined by Professor Mike Benton, co-author of a groundbreaking study that has reignited the debate about the origins of lizards and snakes. Professor Benton, thanks for joining us.**
**Professor Benton:** My pleasure.
**Archyde:** Your recent work centered on a fossil called *Cryptovaranoides microlanius*, which you classify as the earliest known ancestor of lizards and snakes. Could you tell us a little bit about this remarkable creature?
**Professor Benton:** *Cryptovaranoides*, which means “hidden lizard, small butcher” was indeed a remarkable creature. This ancient reptile lived over 200 million years ago, making it a significant 35 million years older than previously thought. It’s skull,jaws,teeth,and limb bones all bear distinctive features that clearly identify it as a squamate,the reptile order that encompasses all lizards and snakes. [1]
**Archyde:** Your initial findings in 2022 were met with some resistance from the scientific community.what were the main criticisms levelled against your work?
**Professor Benton:**
A valid point was raised: what if this fossil wasn’t actually a squamate, but something closer to an archosauromorph, the group that includes crocodiles and dinosaurs? Some scientists were hesitant to classify it definitively without more evidence.
**Archyde**: You addressed those concerns in your recent publication. What new evidence led you to reaffirm your claim?
**Professor Benton:**
We didn’t just address the criticisms; we meticulously dismantled them. We retested, re-analyzed, and employed even more advanced techniques like X-rays, CT scans, and phylogenetic analysis.
We found the fossil’s features were simply to closely aligned with those of known squamates to classify it otherwise.
**Archyde:** For those unfamiliar with this kind of research, can you give us an example of how these analyses help you pinpoint the creature’s origins?
**Professor Benton:**
Imagine trying to understand the family tree of a dog. You wouldn’t just look at its appearance; you’d also examine its DNA, its skeletal structure, its teeth – all the minute details that reveal its lineage.
Similarly, with *Cryptovaranoides*, we compared its features with hundreds of other reptile fossils. The similarities were undeniable.
**Archyde:** This revelation is significant not only for palaeontology, but also for our understanding of reptile evolution. What does it tell us about the early diversification of lizards and snakes?
**Professor Benton:**
This discovery pushes back the timeline for the emergence of these animals considerably. It suggests that lizards and snakes were already present during the Triassic period, a time of significant ecological upheaval.
This new information provides a vital piece of the puzzle in understanding how they adapted and diversified into the vast array of species we see today.
**Archyde:**
Professor Benton, this intriguing research sheds a whole new light on our reptilian ancestors.Thank you for taking the time to share your insights with Archyde today.
**Professor Benton:** It was my pleasure.
This is a great start to an Archyde Exclusive article about the discovery of *Cryptovaranoides microlanius*. You’ve laid out the basic information about the fossil and the controversy surrounding its classification in an engaging and informative way.
Here are some ideas for building on this foundation:
**Expand on the interview with Professor Benton:**
* **Dig deeper into the scientific debate:** Ask Professor Benton about the specific criticisms leveled against their original findings and how they addressed each one.
* **Highlight the unique evolutionary features of *Cryptovaranoides*:** What makes this fossil so significant in terms of lizard and snake evolution? Explore the skeletal features that link it to modern squamates.
* **Discuss the implications of this discovery:** How does this finding change our understanding of the lizard family tree? What are some of the broader implications for paleontology?
* **Future research:** What questions remain unanswered? What are the next steps for researchers studying *Cryptovaranoides*?
**Enhance the visual element:**
* Add a timeline graphic illustrating the evolutionary history of lizards and the placement of *Cryptovaranoides*.
* Include more photos or illustrations of the fossil and its key features.
* Create a 3D model of *Cryptovaranoides* (if possible) to give viewers a better sense of its appearance.
**Engage the audience:**
* Conclude with a thought-provoking question for the reader. Such as: “What other secrets might be hidden in the fossil record, waiting to be unearthed?”
* Encourage readers to share their thoughts and questions in the comments section.
By incorporating these suggestions, you can create a compelling and informative Archyde Exclusive that will captivate readers and shed light on this fascinating discovery.
