Scientists have discovered the earliest known footprints of a reptile-like creature, pushing back the timeline of their evolution by millions of years. The two trackways found in eastern Victoria, Australia were made by an early amniote, a group that includes reptiles, birds, and mammals.
The discovery was made by builder Craig Eury and winemaker John Eason, who stumbled upon the tracks while fossil hunting along a river bed. Paleontologist John Long from Flinders University is the lead author of the study, which suggests that these creatures walked the Earth 35 million years earlier than previously thought.
The footprints are estimated to be around 354-359 million years old, dating back to the early Carboniferous period. They were found on a 14-inch sandstone slab and show signs of an amniote, such as five-toed feet and claw marks. The tracks also have dimples from raindrops, indicating that they were made on dry land.
However, some scientists disagree with the assumption that the creatures were on land. Anthony Romilio from the University of Queensland suggests that the animals could have made the tracks by pushing off the ground in shallow water, using a motion known as “punting”.
Despite this disagreement, Long stands behind his work and believes that the sharp claws digging into the sediment are too precise to suggest they were digging underwater. The discovery has sparked debate and further research is needed to confirm the presence of amniotes in the fossil record.
The findings have significant implications for our understanding of animal evolution and the early history of life on Earth. As paleontologist Per Ahlberg notes, footprints are like “fossil movie clips” of living animals, providing valuable insights into the behavior and habits of ancient creatures.
Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/fossil-hunters-discover-earliest-known-footprints-of-a-reptile-like-creature-pushing-back-the-timeline-of-their-evolution-180986635