Researchers have recently unearthed ancient fossils of a large, salamander-like creature with sharp teeth that once dominated the waters before the age of dinosaurs. This predator, bigger than a person, likely used its wide head and front teeth to capture and devour its prey. The findings were published in the journal Nature and named the creature Gaiasia jennyae.
The fossil remains of four of these ancient creatures, including a partial skull and backbone, were examined. These discoveries shed light on a creature that lived approximately 40 million years before the evolution of dinosaurs. These findings help in tracing the origins of tetrapods, which are four-legged animals that transitioned from water to land and eventually evolved into amphibians, birds, and mammals, including humans.
Most early tetrapod fossils have been found in hot, prehistoric coal swamps in North America and Europe. However, these newly discovered fossils were located in Namibia, Africa, an area that was once covered in glaciers. This suggests that tetrapods may have existed in colder climates earlier than previously thought, raising questions about their spread across the planet.
Co-author Claudia Marsicano from the University of Buenos Aires stated that the early history of tetrapods is more intricate than previously believed. The creature was named after the Gai-As rock formation in Namibia where the fossils were found and in honor of the late paleontologist Jennifer Clack, who studied tetrapod evolution. This discovery highlights the complexity of early life forms and their adaptation to different environments.
Scientists believe that this large salamander-like predator could have been an aggressive stapler due to its feeding mechanism resembling one. Its skull was about 2 feet long with wide head and front teeth used for capturing prey.
These discoveries provide important insights into how life evolved over time on Earth by showing us what species existed before others came into existence.
The team’s work also raises questions about when tetrapods first appeared on land or even if they existed at all during those times as they are believed to be an intermediate group between aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates.
Overall this discovery highlights how much we still have to learn about our planet’s past by uncovering new species through studying fossils.
