Ancient predators: sensational fossil find in Mallorca!

Ancient predators: sensational fossil find in Mallorca!

Banyalbufar, Spanien - in Mallorca, Spanish researchers have made a sensational find: over 270 million years old fossils of a previously unnamed predator. This early representative of the Gorgonopsides is reminiscent of a dog, but is not directly related to today's dogs. The discovery published in the renowned journal "Nature Communications" could provide basic insights into the evolution of agricultural animals. The fossils were discovered in the municipality of Banyalbufar in the Tramuntana Mountains and include parts of the skull, vertebrae, ribs and a well-preserved thigh bone. According to first author Rafel Matamales, the large number of bones found surprised.

unique prey catcher

The animal was about a meter long and, unlike the reptiles at that time, showed vertical legs that were predestined for quick running. The saber -tooth -like corner teeth, a characteristic characteristic of the Gorgonopsides, indicate that it was a successful hunter. The researchers suspect that herbivorous reptiles like the Captorhinidae chased that were widespread at the time. Due to its age, the Fossil is considered the oldest evidence of the Gorgonopsids worldwide and the first finds of this kind in Western Europe. This statement is made by FOCUS.de It is pointed out that Mallorca was part of the Pangaea super continent at the time and lay under a warm, summer moist climate.

gorgonopsides that once grazed across the earth are important for understanding the evolution of the therapy, which include modern mammals. Ken Angielczyk from the Field Museum in Chicago explains: "Gorgonopside are closer to mammals than with any other living animals. They are not our direct ancestors, but they are related to species that were our direct ancestors." This discovery in Mallorca shows that evolution is more complex than you may think and provide invaluable information about past life forms.