04:56Archaeologists in Brazil have announced the discovery of fossils believed to be among the oldest in the world, which they claim belonged to a reptile that predated the dinosaurs some 237 million years ago.
Footage captured in Paraiso do Sul on Friday shows a team of palaeontologists working in the area where the fossils were found, hoping to unearth more bone fragments that could help them better understand the evolutionary history of the ancient creature.
Palaeontologist Rodrigo Temp Muller explained that the fossils, believed to be from a primitive four-legged reptile known as Gondwanax paraisensis, were actually discovered by an amateur archaeologist.
"The person who found it was Mr Pedro Aurelio, who is a doctor and a palaeontology enthusiast. So he goes to the places where he believes there may be fossils and collects the materials that catch his attention," Muller said.
"This animal was around a meter long, so it wasn't big," he continued. "It is older than the dinosaurs. In fact, it actually lacks characteristics that are common to dinosaurs."
Aurelio discovered the fossils in a layer of rock known as a 'concretion' in southern Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state back in 2014. The physician donated his findings to a local university in 2021, where Muller and his team started their research.
According to Muller, palaeontologists are now searching for more bones to complete the animal's entire anatomy.
"Shortly after announcing this discovery, we returned to the site. We have already found more material from an animal that probably belongs to this species or at least is a very close relative," he said.
"A few years ago, any dinosaur fossil approximately 230 million years old was a huge novelty. We knew little about them. Over the years, we have filled in the gaps in the fossil record, and today, we almost completely understand the anatomy of the first dinosaurs," Muller added.
The palaeontologist said the discovery could shed new light on an 'evolutionary puzzle', helping experts to understand what led to the rise of the dinosaurs and the extinction of their ancient precursors.
"We are almost at the beginning of this story because other animals are no longer as closely related to dinosaurs. So we are very close to what would be the beginning of the evolutionary history, not only of dinosaurs but of all these precursors," he added.
Muller published his findings in a detailed article published in the scientific journal Gondwana Research in late September.
Before the dinosaur - Brazilian scientists discover 237-million-year-old fossils from ancient reptile
Archaeologists in Brazil have announced the discovery of fossils believed to be among the oldest in the world, which they claim belonged to a reptile that predated the dinosaurs some 237 million years ago.
Footage captured in Paraiso do Sul on Friday shows a team of palaeontologists working in the area where the fossils were found, hoping to unearth more bone fragments that could help them better understand the evolutionary history of the ancient creature.
Palaeontologist Rodrigo Temp Muller explained that the fossils, believed to be from a primitive four-legged reptile known as Gondwanax paraisensis, were actually discovered by an amateur archaeologist.
"The person who found it was Mr Pedro Aurelio, who is a doctor and a palaeontology enthusiast. So he goes to the places where he believes there may be fossils and collects the materials that catch his attention," Muller said.
"This animal was around a meter long, so it wasn't big," he continued. "It is older than the dinosaurs. In fact, it actually lacks characteristics that are common to dinosaurs."
Aurelio discovered the fossils in a layer of rock known as a 'concretion' in southern Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state back in 2014. The physician donated his findings to a local university in 2021, where Muller and his team started their research.
According to Muller, palaeontologists are now searching for more bones to complete the animal's entire anatomy.
"Shortly after announcing this discovery, we returned to the site. We have already found more material from an animal that probably belongs to this species or at least is a very close relative," he said.
"A few years ago, any dinosaur fossil approximately 230 million years old was a huge novelty. We knew little about them. Over the years, we have filled in the gaps in the fossil record, and today, we almost completely understand the anatomy of the first dinosaurs," Muller added.
The palaeontologist said the discovery could shed new light on an 'evolutionary puzzle', helping experts to understand what led to the rise of the dinosaurs and the extinction of their ancient precursors.
"We are almost at the beginning of this story because other animals are no longer as closely related to dinosaurs. So we are very close to what would be the beginning of the evolutionary history, not only of dinosaurs but of all these precursors," he added.
Muller published his findings in a detailed article published in the scientific journal Gondwana Research in late September.
Archaeologists in Brazil have announced the discovery of fossils believed to be among the oldest in the world, which they claim belonged to a reptile that predated the dinosaurs some 237 million years ago.
Footage captured in Paraiso do Sul on Friday shows a team of palaeontologists working in the area where the fossils were found, hoping to unearth more bone fragments that could help them better understand the evolutionary history of the ancient creature.
Palaeontologist Rodrigo Temp Muller explained that the fossils, believed to be from a primitive four-legged reptile known as Gondwanax paraisensis, were actually discovered by an amateur archaeologist.
"The person who found it was Mr Pedro Aurelio, who is a doctor and a palaeontology enthusiast. So he goes to the places where he believes there may be fossils and collects the materials that catch his attention," Muller said.
"This animal was around a meter long, so it wasn't big," he continued. "It is older than the dinosaurs. In fact, it actually lacks characteristics that are common to dinosaurs."
Aurelio discovered the fossils in a layer of rock known as a 'concretion' in southern Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state back in 2014. The physician donated his findings to a local university in 2021, where Muller and his team started their research.
According to Muller, palaeontologists are now searching for more bones to complete the animal's entire anatomy.
"Shortly after announcing this discovery, we returned to the site. We have already found more material from an animal that probably belongs to this species or at least is a very close relative," he said.
"A few years ago, any dinosaur fossil approximately 230 million years old was a huge novelty. We knew little about them. Over the years, we have filled in the gaps in the fossil record, and today, we almost completely understand the anatomy of the first dinosaurs," Muller added.
The palaeontologist said the discovery could shed new light on an 'evolutionary puzzle', helping experts to understand what led to the rise of the dinosaurs and the extinction of their ancient precursors.
"We are almost at the beginning of this story because other animals are no longer as closely related to dinosaurs. So we are very close to what would be the beginning of the evolutionary history, not only of dinosaurs but of all these precursors," he added.
Muller published his findings in a detailed article published in the scientific journal Gondwana Research in late September.