A new species of armored reptile has been unveiled by a team of researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. The newly identified species, named Garzapelta muelleri, lived around 215 million years ago and closely resembled a heavily armored crocodile.
The specimen of Garzapelta is 70% complete, with most major parts of the body intact. The bony plates that covered its body, known as osteoderms, formed a protective suit of armor embedded in the skin. The spikes on Garzapelta are an example of convergent evolution, where similar traits evolve in different species.
The research on Garzapelta sheds light on the challenges of determining its place in the larger aetosaur family tree due to convergent evolution. The specimen was discovered in the fossil collections of Texas Tech University, where it had been sitting on a shelf for 30 years before being studied.
Researchers are now delving into how factors such as age or sex could impact the appearance of aetosaur armor. The study, published in The Anatomical Record, was a collaborative effort with researchers from the University of Houston-Downtown and the Museum of Texas Tech University.
This groundbreaking discovery adds to our understanding of the diverse prehistoric creatures that roamed the Earth millions of years ago. Stay tuned for more updates on the fascinating world of paleontology and ancient discoveries.
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