Scientists have made an exciting discovery in northwestern Texas, where a new species of aetosaur has been unearthed. Dating back 215 million years, these creatures were massive armored relatives of crocodiles, known for their bony plates called osteoderms that provided protection.
Described as the “tanks of the Triassic,” these aetosaurs could grow up to 16 feet long. Researchers recently excavated a large portion of the creature’s back armor, from the neck to the tail, providing valuable insights into their anatomy.
Aetosaurs dominated Earth during the late Triassic period and were believed to be primarily omnivores. The fossil, discovered in 1989 by paleontologist Bill Mueller and amateur collector Emmett Shedd, has been named Garzapelta muelleri after Garza County and Mueller.
Despite their findings, the team faced challenges in determining where this newly discovered species fits on the aetosaur family tree due to its unique features. Notably, the spikes on the fossil suggest they evolved independently through convergent evolution, according to researchers.
The study detailing this remarkable discovery has been published in the prestigious journal The Anatomical Record. This finding sheds new light on the diversity and evolution of aetosaurs, offering valuable insights into the ancient relatives of modern crocodiles. Stay tuned for more updates on this fascinating discovery.
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