A new species of Jurassic reptile has been discovered in Scotland thanks to a fossil recently studied.
The ancient ancestor of lizards and snakes was found on the Isle of Skye and is thought to have lived around 167 million years ago.
An international team of scientists, including researchers from National Museums Scotland (NMS), gave the species the Gaelic name Breugnathair elgolensis, meaning “false snake of Elgol” in reference to the area of southern Skye were the fossil was found.
Despite having the same limbs and proportions as a lizard, the reptile had snake-like jaws and highly recurved teeth like those of a python.
The fossil, which is now part of NMS’s national collection, is one of the oldest and most complete Jurassic lizards known to science.
It is believed that the anatomy suggests the species could have been one of the parviraptorids which are the predecessors of all lizards and snakes.
Lead author Dr Roger Benson, Curator of Palaeontology at the American Museum of Natural History, said: “Snakes are remarkable animals that evolved long, limbless bodies from lizard-like ancestors.
“Breugnathair has the snake-like feature of the teeth and jaws, but in other ways is surprisingly primitive.”
It is believed the Breugnathair elgolensis lived around 167 million years ago
|
PA
He added: “This might be telling us that snake ancestors were very different to what we expected, or it could instead by evidence for evolution of predatory habits in a primitive, extinct group.”
The fossil was originally discovered near to Elgol by NMS curator Dr Stig Walsh in 2016.
It has since gone through detailed scans to discover more about the species.
In recent years, numerous discoveries on the Isle of Skye have been made by palaeontologists.
DINOSAUR DISCOVERIES:
PICTURED: Dr Stig Walsh with a cast of a Breugnathair elgolensis fossil
|
PA
Dr Walsh said: “The Isle of Skye is one of the most important Middle Jurassic sites in the world.
“Breugnathair elgolensis is a remarkable addition to the fossil record, helping to rewrite our understanding of the evolution of snakes and lizards.
“We’re delighted to add it to the other amazing finds in the national collection that were discovered in Skye, truly Scotland’s Jurassic Isle.”
Professor Susan Evans from UCL, who co-led the study, said: “The Jurassic fossil deposits on the Isle of Skye are of world importance for our understanding of the early evolution of many living groups, including lizards, which were beginning their diversification at around this time.”