350-Million-Year-Old Reptile Footprints Rewrite Evolutionary History
2025-05-22
Scientists in Australia have unearthed the oldest known reptile footprints, dating back approximately 350 million years. This discovery predates the previously oldest known footprints by 32 million years, suggesting that the transition of vertebrates from ocean to land happened much faster than previously thought. The footprints, exhibiting clawed feet, confirm the animal's complete terrestrial adaptation, as claws only evolved in fully land-dwelling creatures. Estimated to be about 2 1/2 feet long, the reptile likely resembled a modern monitor lizard. This remarkable find significantly alters our understanding of early vertebrate evolution and provides crucial insights into the history of life on Earth.
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