Discovered on a fossil Isle of Skye The Jurassic reptiles have been manifested as a new species that was an ancient ancestor for lizards and snakes.
An international team of researchers, including the National Museum Scotland (NMS), an already exposed an unknown species that lived about 167 million years ago.
It was given Gelic Name Breugnathair Elgolensis, which means “False Snake of Elgol” – Reference to the area of Southern Sky Where it was discovered.
In reptiles, snake -like jaws and excessive recurrence teeth were like a python, although the same organs and proportions of the lizard.
Knowing for fossil science is one of the oldest and most complete Jurassic lizards and is now part of the national collection of NMS.
Its anatomy suggests that it can be one of the previous -parvirptorids of all lizards and snakes.
Lead writer Dr. Roger Banson, but peliyantology curator American Museum of Natural History,
“Breugnathair has a characteristics like teeth and jaw snake, but surprisingly primitive by other ways.
“It can tell us that the ancestors of the snake were very different that we expected, or it could be evidence for the development of hunter habits in a primitive, extinct group.”
In 2016, NMS Curator Dr. Fossils were discovered near Elgol by Steig Walsh, and have been scanned since then.
The peliytologist has made several important discoveries on Sky in recent years.
Dr. Walsh said: “Isle of Sky is one of the most important middle Jurassic sites in the world.
“Braiganathare algolnsis is a notable additional for fossil records, which helps re -writing our understanding of snakes and lizards.
“We are happy to add it to other amazing discoveries in the national collection discovered in Sky, actually Jurassic Isle of Scotland.”
UCL Professor Susan Evans, who resorted to the study, said: “The Jurassic fossil deposited on the Isle of Sky is of world importance to our understanding of the early growth of many living groups, including lizards, which were currently starting their diversification.”