Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • ZME & more
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Our stance on climate change
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
Home Science News

‘Lizard king’, an early dinosaur ancestor, ruled over lush Antarctica more than 250 million years ago

The newly discovered archosaur provides new hints into dinosaur evolution.

by Tibi Puiu
January 31, 2019
in News
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

About 250 million years ago, Antarctica wasn’t the barren frozen landscape we know today but rather a lush landmass covered in forests and rivers. Naturally, all sorts of wildlife lived here, among them a newly identified iguana-like ancestor to crocodiles and dinosaurs.

Illustration of Antarctanax shackletoni sneaking up on an early titanopetran insect. Credit: Adrienne Stroup, Field Museum.
Illustration of Antarctanax shackletoni sneaking up on an early titanopetran insect. Credit: Adrienne Stroup, Field Museum.

Technically, Antarctanax shackletoni — the genus means “Antarctic king” while the latter name denoting the species is a tribute to polar explorer Ernest Shackleton — is an archosaur. These were the direct ancestors of the dinosaurs and crocodiles, evolving from more primitive reptiles in the Triassic, following the Permian mass extinction. The evolution of archosaurs signifies an important milestone in the history of terrestrial life, and fossils such as A. schackletoni, which is one of the first members of this group, help paint a broader picture of how dinosaurs evolved and spread.

Radiocarbon dating suggests that the lizard-like archosaur lived only two million years after the Permian mass extinction event that wiped out 90% of all animal life. In the aftermath of cataclysmic volcanic eruptions and subsequent climate change, most ecological niches were left blank and opportunistic lineages soon stepped up to fill the voids. Archosaurs were one of the groups that profited the most from Earth’s biggest mass extinction, rapidly colonizing the whole planet. Before the event, the group was mostly confined to areas around the equator.

The incomplete fossilized specimen was described by a research team led by Brandon Peecook, a Field Museum researcher. Despite missing bones, the researchers could tell from the fused vertebrae that their specimen was an adult measuring about 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) in length. Other, more subtle hints provide insight into the animal’s ecology. For instance, the shape of its limbs suggests it lived on the ground and did not climb trees or burrow.

ALSO READ:  Ireland's first-ever dinosaur fossils confirmed

However, the most interesting thing about this reptile is where it lived. It suggests that Antarctica was a thriving environment for the rapid evolution and diversification of life after the mass extinction.

“The more we find out about prehistoric Antarctica, the weirder it is,” said Peecook in a statement. “We thought that Antarctic animals would be similar to the ones that were living in southern Africa, since those landmasses were joined back then. But we’re finding that Antarctica’s wildlife is surprisingly unique.”

“Antarctica had a combination of these brand-new animals and stragglers of animals that were already extinct in most places—what paleontologists call ‘dead clades walking.’ You’ve got tomorrow’s animals and yesterday’s animals, cohabiting in a cool place.”

The findings appeared in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Tags: archosaurdinosaur

ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • ZME & more

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • ZME & more
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Our stance on climate change
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.