Reptiles’ Origins Rewritten by Fossil Tracks

New evidence found in Australia has pushed back the appearance of reptiles on Earth by up to 40 million years earlier than previously believed. The discovery of amniote tracks dating back to 356 million years ago challenges the timeline of vertebrate evolution.

The footprints, found in sandstone dated to be 354-358 million years old, provide new insights into the early evolution of reptiles, birds, and mammals. These findings suggest a significant shift in our understanding of when land-based creatures first emerged.

The fossilized footprints, with clear toe imprints and claw marks, indicate that reptile ancestors may have appeared much earlier than originally thought. This discovery has sparked excitement among paleontologists worldwide, as it reshapes our understanding of ancient ecosystems and the timeline of tetrapod evolution.

Further research into these early reptile tracks in Australia is expected to provide more clues about the evolution of amniotes and the diversity of life on Earth millions of years ago.