Latest news with #CarboniferousPeriod
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Reptile history rewritten with discovery of footprints 40 million years older
Image source: A groundbreaking fossil discovery in northern Victoria, Australia, is shaking up paleontology. Fossilized footprints from the Carboniferous Period, around 359 million years ago, suggest that reptiles may have roamed Earth much earlier than previously believed. This find significantly predates the oldest known reptile fossils, pushing the reptile evolutionary timeline back by millions of years. Professor John Long of Flinders University notes that these trace fossils challenge established theories about the origins of reptiles. The discovery not only provides new insights into reptile development but also prompts a major reevaluation of evolutionary history, particularly regarding early life forms. Some interesting facts about reptiles Footprints of reptile forebears Experts suggest that the tracks indicate these creatures may have emerged around 350 million years ago, pushing their existence back by 40 million years compared to earlier records. One set of partial prints displayed clear claw marks, suggesting these animals were true reptiles rather than amphibians. Another set featured a smaller front foot and a larger hind foot, a characteristic commonly seen in land-dwelling vertebrates. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Excel in Finance Dynamics IIMK-AF Apply Now Undo Gondwana 's role in reptile evolution For years, scientists have examined the southern supercontinent Gondwana, where early four-limbed vertebrates left behind their remains and tracks. The recent find in Victoria supports the idea that key evolutionary milestones took place in these areas. At that time, Australia was a central part of this landmass, and its warmer climate may have contributed to the emergence of new adaptations in reptile ancestors. Rethinking the reptile evolution timeline Paleontologists study says that fossil footprints to gain insight into the movement of ancient animals, with features like clawed toes helping to distinguish whether a creature was a reptile or an amphibian. "This pushes back the origin of crown-group amniotes by at least 35-40 million years," said Professor John Long. The research emphasizes how crucial footprints are in reshaping our understanding of evolutionary timelines. Reptiles belong to the amniote group, which also includes birds and mammals. The claw marks found in these fossilized tracks point to a full transition from aquatic environments, a defining feature of reptiles. While many scientists once believed that amniotes originated in the Northern Hemisphere, these footprints challenge that idea and raise new questions about the spread of early reptiles across ancient landscapes. Transforming landscapes and the diversity of animals Researchers are planning to survey other regions of Victoria for additional trace fossils that could help fill in the gaps of this ancient record. They are hopeful that new discoveries will clarify how these early creatures adapted to life on land. The discovery of more trackways could offer new insights into how reptiles diverged from amphibians. Each new footprint holds the potential to reveal crucial details about posture, movement, and survival strategies. The Carboniferous Period, which lasted from around 359 to 299 million years ago, was a time of dense swamp forests, giant insects, and elevated oxygen levels in the atmosphere. At that time, the configuration of landmasses was different from today's. Some scientists believe that shifting coastlines may have created distinct ecological niches, driving the evolution of new adaptations in response to changing environments. Environments and habitats of reptile predecessors Some reptile ancestors likely ventured onto solid ground, while others remained in aquatic environments. With limited evidence of this transition, every fossil footprint holds significant value. Even one single impression can reveal how early amniotes balanced their bodies or positioned their tails. The size, depth, and spacing of the prints provide important clues about their speed and range of motion. A single fossil slab discovered in Victoria has reignited the debate over reptile origins. Researchers propose revisiting older formations to check if more reptile evidence has been overlooked in the past. Professor Long and his team highlight the need for additional fieldwork to confirm whether reptiles emerged simultaneously in multiple regions. They argue that this discovery shows how a single trackway can challenge and refine our understanding of early amniotes. Investigating further reptile trace fossils Future digs could uncover more footprints from the early phases of reptile evolution, shedding light on how quickly these creatures adapted to life on land. Advances in technology, like high-resolution scanning, allow for more precise analysis of the details in each print, helping paleontologists reconstruct entire ecosystems from a few fossilized traces. Laser scanning is commonly used in footprint analysis to capture 3D images, revealing intricate features such as fine ridges that suggest muscle strength or toe flexibility. Rare skin patterns found in the footprints can also provide insights into the texture of scales. Each layer of mud or sand offers valuable clues about the environmental conditions that existed at the time. Reptiles' first steps onto land Before the evolution of amniotes, vertebrates like fish and amphibians depended on water for reproduction. Over time, the development of eggs with protective membranes allowed animals like reptiles to move onto land. This transition laid the groundwork for the diversification of reptiles, birds, and mammals into numerous forms. These footprints represent an important link in that long evolutionary process. Researchers are comparing the new prints with known trackways from synapsids and early amphibians. Key differences include the curvature of the toes and the presence of claws. Synapsids, which eventually gave rise to mammals, left broader footprints with distinct digit spacing, while reptile-like tracks typically feature sharper claw impressions. Ancient Tracks of Reptile Ancestors These ancient footprints link today's wildlife to distant ancestors that once roamed muddy shores. Each mark sparks curiosity about how life first adapted to land. Studying these steps can also reveal key insights into the broader course of evolution. The early success of reptiles, after all, laid the groundwork for the eventual rise of dinosaurs and other land-dwelling creatures. Scientists stress that no single find tells the full story. Tracks, fossils, and environmental clues must all come together to create a clearer picture of the past. Though the record is still incomplete, new discoveries in unexpected places continue to fill in the gaps. Every fresh footprint offers a rare window into a time of rapid evolutionary transformation. Also read: Discover the world's smallest snake measuring only 10 centim ..
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Newly discovered claw-mark fossils suggest reptiles evolved earlier than we thought
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Reptiles as we know them today may have evolved about 30 million years earlier than we initially assumed, new footprints reveal. According to a study published Wednesday (May 14) in the journal Nature, fossilized tracks found in Australia may have been left by the clawed feet of a small reptile-like creature about 350 million years ago, during the Carboniferous period. This new discovery would push back the evolution of these animals by roughly 30 million years, as early reptiles were previously thought to have evolved around 320 million years ago. "Once we identified this, we realised this is the oldest evidence in the world of reptile-like animals walking around on land — and it pushes their evolution back by 35-to-40 million years older than the previous records in the Northern Hemisphere," study co-author John Long, a strategic professor of palaeontology at Flinders University in Australia, said in a statement. "The implications of this discovery for the early evolution of tetrapods are profound." Modern reptiles, along with birds and mammals, are part of a group of animals known as amniotes, which are defined as tetrapod vertebrates (four-limbed animals with backbones) that lay eggs equipped with a protective membrane that surrounds the embryo. This so-called amnion allows eggs to be laid on land, freeing early land animals from dependency on water for reproduction. This is in contrast to amphibians, which rely on moist environments to reproduce. Related: Which animal species has existed the longest? Amniotes evolved from amphibian-like ancestors, with the earliest amniote body fossils being dated to the late Carboniferous Period, which spanned from approximately 359 to 299 million years ago. These early amniotes, which were small, lizard-like creatures, then diversified into two groups: synapsids and sauropsids, which evolved into the earliest ancestors of mammals and reptiles, respectively. Based on the fossil record, amniotes were thought to have evolved around 320 million years ago. However, this new discovery of clawed amniote footprints in Australia from 350 million years ago throws these estimations hugely off. "I'm stunned," study co-author Per Ahlberg, a professor of paleontology at Uppsala University, said in a statement. "A single track-bearing slab, which one person can lift, calls into question everything we thought we knew about when modern tetrapods evolved." These footprints were discovered on a 20-inch (50cm) rock slab by two amateur palaeontologists in the Snowy Plains Formation in Australia's Victoria, which dates back to 350 million years ago. The footprints appeared to have been made by a creature with clawed feet and long toes, likely an early sauropsid, meaning that reptiles may have been around much earlier than we assumed. "Claws are present in all early amniotes, but almost never in other groups of tetrapods," Ahlberg said. "The combination of the claw scratches and the shape of the feet suggests that the track maker was a primitive reptile." These footprints are the earliest clawed prints ever discovered. "When I saw this specimen for the first time, I was very surprised," study co-author Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki, a researcher at Uppsala University, said in the statement. RELATED STORIES —'Exquisitely preserved' ginormous claws from Mongolia reveal strange evolution in dinosaurs —See the reconstructed home of 'polar dinosaurs' that thrived in the Antarctic 120 million years ago —Hoatzin: The strange 'stinkbird' born with clawed wings that appears to be an evolutionary 'orphan' Pushing back the tree of reptilian evolution, the researchers concluded that reptiles may have actually evolved towards the end of the Devonian period, when primitive fish-like creatures like Tiktaalik roamed the land. "It's all about the relative length of different branches in the tree," Ahlberg said. "In a family tree based on DNA data from living animals, branches will have different lengths reflecting the number of genetic changes along each branch segment. This does not depend on fossils, so it's really helpful for studying phases of evolution with a poor fossil record." Niedźwiedzki added: "The most interesting discoveries are yet to come and that there is still much to be found in the field. These footprints from Australia are just one example of this."
Forbes
25-04-2025
- Science
- Forbes
A routine fossil-hunting trip revealed a site teeming with exceptionally preserved "gemstone-ammonites."
Rare fossil of an ammonite preserved with a distinct mother-of-pearl iridescence, recently ... More discovered by Dr. Chris Shelton and RSU student Kolby Dooling. During a recent field-trip, Rogers State University (RSU) Professor Dr. Chris Shelton and his student Kolby Dooling stumbled over a fossil treasure chest. 'Just before spring break, I took one of my students, Kolby Dooling, to a site that I'd taken other students to before, one that had always been a good place to explore,' so Shelton. 'We'd noticed these fossils before, but this time, Kolby brought a very large iridescent piece to me. It was clear he had discovered something extraordinary with this ammonite fossil.' The fossil shells still preserve their nacre layer, giving them an iridescence appearance. Nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl, is an organic–inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer. Usually this layer decays quickly after the death of the organism and is not preserved in the fossil record. There are only a few places in the world where similar fossils were found, including the province of Alberta (Canada), Oklahoma's Arbuckle Mountains and the island of Madagascar. In most cases the iridescence layer is displayed by the curled shells of ammonites, a group of extinct cephalopods, so this gemstone-like material is often referred to as 'ammolite.' 'Ammolite is very unique as it's a biological gemstone, similar to pearls, formed from the fossilized shells of ancient cephalopods that exhibit vibrant, iridescent colors and patterns due to the microstructure of the original aragonite layer. They're particularly rare and sought after by collectors," Shelton explains. 'I was excited that I'd found something so rare – so unusual,' Dooling adds. 'I've never been so lucky to find as many fossils as I found when I went collecting with Dr. Shelton. I've found a few back home, but nothing like this. It really piqued my interest.' Dr. Chris Shelton (left) and RSU student Kolby Dooling examine a rare fossil they discovered on a ... More recent expedition Since the initial discovery, Shelton and Dooling have returned to the site, which they are keeping undisclosed for the time being. According to the first results, the fossils date to around 300 million years into the Carboniferous Period. All other fossil sites exhibiting this preserved mother-of-pearl iridescence are geologically younger. Although Dooling is slated to graduate from RSU with his associate's degree this spring, he said he will stay in touch with Shelton to work on a research paper describing the new site. 'This will be a significant discovery,' Shelton said. 'It's important that Kolby also get credit for helping me make it, and it's always good for me to take students out of the classroom and into the field, from the theoretical to the practical, to find fossils for themselves and to get to uncover their own piece of history.' Following his time at RSU, Dooling said he hopes to continue his education and eventually work in the field of petroleum geology. Additional material and interviews provided by Rogers State University.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
US professor, student discover 300-million-year-old ammonite fossil pre-dating dinosaurs
A geology professor and his student at Rogers State University (RSU) made a remarkable discovery just before spring break. Dr. Chris Shelton and student Kolby Dooling unearthed a rare, well-preserved ammonite fossil at a site in Oklahoma, and it wasn't an ordinary fossil. This particular find shimmered with the colorful glow of a gemstone. 'Just before spring break, I took one of my students, Kolby Dooling, to a site that I'd taken other students to before, one that had always been a good place to explore,' explained Shelton. 'We'd noticed these fossils before, but this time, Kolby brought a very large iridescent piece to me. It was clear he had discovered something extraordinary with this ammonite fossil.' The fossil, according to Shelton, shows signs of preservation that give it a pearl-like iridescence, a feature rarely found in fossils this old. These types of fossils are called ammolite in Canada, where they are better known. Ammolite is a rare gemstone that forms from the fossilized shells of ammonites, an extinct group of shelled marine animals related to squids. Shelton believes the fossil they found is a true ammolite, even though it was found far from known ammolite-rich areas like Alberta, Canada. He explained that these types of fossils are made from the mineral aragonite, which retains a dazzling iridescence due to its microscopic structure. 'Ammolite is very unique as it's a biological gemstone, similar to pearls, formed from the fossilized shells of ancient cephalopods—mollusks related to modern squids—that exhibit vibrant, iridescent colors and patterns due to the microstructure of the original aragonite. They're particularly rare and sought after by collectors,' explained Shelton. What makes this discovery even more significant is the fossil's age. It dates back to the Carboniferous Period, which was over 300 million years ago—long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Most iridescent ammonite fossils known today come from the Mesozoic Era, the age of dinosaurs. There's only one other known location in the world where aragonite of this age has been found intact—at the Buckhorn Asphalt Lagerstätte in Oklahoma's Arbuckle Mountains. That site is known for preserving some of the oldest aragonite fossils ever discovered. This new discovery adds to the rarity and importance of the find. After the initial discovery, Shelton and Dooling returned to the same site and collected additional samples. These included fossilized shark remains and other ancient invertebrates. The goal now is to conduct more research and analysis to better understand the fossils they've found. 'We plan to do more expeditions, more collection trips to the site to gather more samples,' said Shelton. 'From there, we'll run many more analytical tests on the fossils to confirm our belief and based on the findings, Kolby and I will write and submit a peer-reviewed paper for acknowledgement of our discovery within the scientific community.' Dooling, who is still a student, was thrilled by the experience and the opportunity to contribute to real scientific work. In the press release, Shelton stated, 'This will be a significant discovery. It's important that Kolby also get credit for helping me make it and it's always good for me to take students out of the classroom and into the field, from the theoretical to the practical, to find fossils for themselves and to get to uncover their own piece of history.' Shelton hopes to have the scientific paper detailing their findings ready by the end of this year. If confirmed, this discovery could offer new insights into fossil preservation and add to the limited number of known ammonite fossils from the Carboniferous Period that exhibit gemstone-quality iridescence.
