Recent research reveals that Cryptovaranoides microlanius, a tiny lizard from the late Triassic, is actually the oldest known squamate, pushing its age back by 35 million years.
The analysis by the University of Bristol debunks previous notions that Cryptovaranoides was an archosaur, illuminating unique squamate features present in its bones that define its lineage.
Key findings reveal that particular bones like the humerus have crucial characteristics that were previously overlooked, reshaping our understanding of this ancient creature's classification.
This lizard, 205 million years old, is not just part of reptilian history; its unique evolutionary traits show the complexity of its development as a squamate.
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