Researchers at the University of Bristol have uncovered a Devonian fossil that provides new insights into the early evolution of lizards.

This remarkable discovery challenges previous assumptions about the development of lepidosaurs, the group that includes modern lizards and snakes. Unlike its modern relatives, the fossil lacks palatal teeth and skull hinges, features commonly found in today’s species.

One of the most distinctive characteristics of this ancient specimen is its unique open temporal bar, along with unusually large teeth. These traits offer valuable clues to how early lepidosaurs might have evolved differently than previously thought.

The findings not only shed light on the diversity of early reptiles but also open up new avenues for understanding the evolutionary history of lizards.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/new-fossil-rewrites-our-understanding-of-reptile-evolution–23597865