According to a study report published in Journal Scientific Reports on March 12, 2016, a team of researchers headed by Richard Butler of the University of Birmingham have discovered new fossil reptile that lived 250 million years ago.
Researchers found the fossil from the Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. Experts believe that this new finding will provide a clear insight into the evolution of dinosaurs in the planet. A small team from the Universidade Federal do Pampa was also part of the study.
The fossil of this species was found accidentally when one of the researchers in the crew accidentally tripped on a rock in which the remains were embedded.
This new reptile species has been identified after analyzing a well-preserved fossil skull, and the team has named it Teyujagua paradoxa. This fossil which is capable of providing much vital information on dinosaur evolution was discovered from a Triassic rock exposure near the city of São Francisco de Assis at the beginning of 2015.
The name Teyujagua has been picked from the language of the Guarani ethnic group. The meaning of Teyujagua means ‘fierce lizard’. Researchers speculate that this newly found fossil species is the missing link between dinosaurs and today’s reptilian species. Offshoots of this species are touted to be the evolutionary reason for the rise of animals like dinosaurs and crocodiles.
Researchers speculate that this newly found fossil species is the missing link between dinosaurs and today’s reptilian species. Offshoots of this species are touted to be the evolutionary reason for the rise of animals like dinosaurs and crocodiles.
A new finding from this region has compelled paleontologists to excavate 250 miles on this site. Researchers expect to discover more ancient species which are capable of solving the evolution puzzle.
Dr Felipe Pinheiro, from Universidade Federal do Pampa, told that the discovery of Teyujagua is one of the most exciting moments in his career.
He also added that Teyajagua has crucial significance in the evolutionary tree of vertebrates. Dr Richard Butler, the team head stated that the finding of this new fossil will provide more vital details about the evolution of archosauriforms. He added that Teyajagua filled the gap between archosauriforms and more primitive reptiles.
