Dinosaur discovery: Ancient species found in Alaska fills ‘important gap in evolution’

Experts from the University of Alaska have unearthed the remains of a marine reptile that lived more than 200 million years ago. The reptile is a distant relative of the dinosaurs and lived

during the mid to late Triassic Period when the first theropods – which would eventually evolve into the tyrannosaurus rex after a few hundred million years – roamed the planet.

However, the creature is a thalattosaur which means ‘ocean lizard’ and is a reptile, not a dinosaur.

Reptiles differ from dinosaurs in several ways, but the main difference is the position of their limbs.

A reptile’s limbs sprawl out to the side of their bodies, like a crocodile for example, where as dinosaurs’ legs grew beneath their bodies, almost parallel to the ground – like modern day

birds.

The beast grew up to four metres long and researchers have hailed is as the most complete thalattosaur ever found in North America.

Patrick Druckenmiller, the paper’s lead author and director and earth sciences curator at the University of Alaska Museum of the North, said: “When you find a new species, one of the things

you want to do is tell people where you think it fits in the family tree.

“We decided to start from scratch on the family tree. It was so specialised and weird, we thought it might be out at the furthest branches of the tree.”

Despite the name ocean lizard, thalattosaurs were actually land dwelling beasts which readapted to life in the ocean.

The beast grew up to four metres long and researchers have hailed is as the most complete thalattosaur ever found in North America.

Patrick Druckenmiller, the paper’s lead author and director and earth sciences curator at the University of Alaska Museum of the North, said: “When you find a new species, one of the things

you want to do is tell people where you think it fits in the family tree.

“We decided to start from scratch on the family tree. It was so specialised and weird, we thought it might be out at the furthest branches of the tree.”

Despite the name ocean lizard, thalattosaurs were actually land dwelling beasts which readapted to life in the ocean.

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You

can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Neil Kelley from Vanderbilt University said: “Thalattosaurs were among the first groups of land-dwelling reptiles to readapt to life in the ocean.

“They thrived for tens of millions of years, but their fossils are relatively rare so this new specimen helps fill an important gap in the story of their evolution and eventual extinction.”

When the scientists first discovered the fossil remains, they new it was a new type of reptile because of its extremely pointed snout, which was likely an adaptation for the shallow marine

environment where it lived.

Mr Druckenmiller said: “It was probably poking its pointy schnoz into cracks and crevices in coral reefs and feeding on soft-bodied critters.”

DON'T MISSDinosaur discovery: Scientists find 82 foot long beast in ArgentinaPaleontology shock: 65,000,000-year-old dinosaur fossil spotted in UKDinosaur discovery: Antarctic clues shows

what happened to dinosaurs

However, the evolutionary adaptation could have ultimately been its downfall when sea levels began to rise, according to the new research published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Mr Druckenmiller added: “We think these animals were highly specialised to feed in the shallow water environments, but when the sea levels dropped and food sources changed, they had nowhere

to go.”

A statement from the University of Alaska said: “Once the fossil was identified as a new species, it needed a name. To honor the local culture and history, elders in Kake and representatives

of Sealaska Corp agreed the Tlingit name ‘Gunakadeit’ would be appropriate.

“Gunakadeit is a sea monster of Tlingit legend that brings good fortune to those who see it.”

See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive.