Researchers have unearthed the geologically oldest marine reptile from the Southern Hemisphere. The Nothosaurus fossil was found in New Zealand.
Scientists have discovered a 246-million-year-old fossil of a marine reptile, CNN reports. This find is the oldest found in the Southern Hemisphere and reveals new aspects of the early evolution of marine mammals.
About 252 million years ago, the Great Dying occurred, the largest mass extinction in the fossil world, wiping out nearly 95% of land and sea species. After that, new creatures began to appear that evolved from the survivors, including reptiles that moved from life on land to life in the sea.
Sauropterosaurs, to which nothosaurs belong, were ancient aquatic reptiles that existed for about 180 million years during the Mesozoic era. Nothosaurs lived on Earth during the Triassic period, the first stage of the age of dinosaurs, from 251 to 200 million years ago. In the past, it was believed that the creatures existed only in the Northern Hemisphere, as their remains are usually found in Europe, China, the Middle East, the USA and Canada.
“Finding a nothosaurus on the other side of the Earth is completely unexpected,” said the lead author of the study, paleontologist from the Museum of Evolution of Uppsala University (Sweden) Benjamin Kier.
During the existence of the nothosaur, almost the entire landmass of the Earth was combined into a supercontinent Pangea, which had the shape of a horseshoe. Within it is the Paleotethys Ocean, where these creatures are believed to live.
According to the researcher, the big mystery is how animals got from Paleotethys to other parts of the planet. What would make such a journey difficult is that the land is surrounded by enormous global oceans that extend from each pole.
The study’s authors suggest that after the creatures adapted to life in the sea, they spread geographically. Nothosaurs probably swam around the Earth’s poles, as they had a suitably elongated body for this, reaching three meters in length, as well as long necks, limbs and tails.
Keir added that researchers must now continue to find more fossils around the world to understand how animals moved around the supercontinent.
It was previously reported that scientists discovered a new species of herbivorous fish from the piranha family.
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Source: korrespondent
I am Ben Stock, a passionate and experienced digital journalist working in the news industry. At the Buna Times, I write articles covering technology developments and related topics. I strive to provide reliable information that my readers can trust. My research skills are top-notch, as well as my ability to craft engaging stories on timely topics with clarity and accuracy.