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The identity of a storeroom specimen that has significantly altered the understanding of modern lizards’ origins has now been validated.
This small skeleton, discovered in Triassic-era rocks from a quarry near Bristol, is over 205 million years old, making it the oldest known example of a modern-type lizard.
The findings by the University of Bristol team were recently contested; however, new analysis published today in Royal Society Open Science confirms the fossil’s connection to contemporary anguimorphs, such as anguids and monitors. This finding pushes the origin date for the entire lizard-snake group, known as Squamata, back by 35 million years.
In their initial research, Dr. David Whiteside, Dr. Sofia Chambi-Trowell, and Professor Mike Benton dubbed this small creature Cryptovaranoides microlanius, which translates to ‘hidden lizard, small butcher,’ due to its classification as a lizard and its sharp teeth that likely served the purpose of cutting its prey. The Bristol researchers identified various skull and skeleton features that positioned the fossil within the Squamata group, closely aligning it with Anguimorpha.
“We anticipated our paper might stir up debate,” Dr. Whiteside noted. “Yet we were assured that we thoroughly examined every conceivable feature and made comparisons with existing data.”
Professor Benton remarked: “Thus, we were quite taken aback that, in 2023, another group of researchers claimed that Cryptovaranoides was neither a lizard nor a relative but rather an archosauromorph, suggesting a closer relationship to crocodilians and dinosaurs.”
While reevaluating their original research and addressing the critiques from the competing study, the Bristol researchers meticulously reviewed all available data, including the original fossil and detailed X-ray imagery hidden within the rock. “Thanks to the remarkable CT scans and our additional access to the fossil, we were able to address each of their points,” Dr. Chambi-Trowell shared. “We found that most of the criticisms raised were incorrect.”
Professor Benton affirmed: “The intricate details of the skull, jaw, teeth, and limb bones unequivocally demonstrate that Cryptovaranoides is a lizard, not an archosauromorph.”
“In our latest publication, we meticulously address each criticism and include additional photographs of the specimen along with 3D images from our scans, allowing others to verify the specifics.”
Dr. Whiteside concluded: “All of this led to a necessary phylogenetic analysis.”
“In this analysis, we coded numerous anatomical features for Cryptovaranoides, alongside other modern and ancient lizards and various archosauromorphs.”
“We conducted this analysis repeatedly, and it consistently reaffirmed our initial conclusion that the small reptile from Bristol is indeed the oldest known modern-type lizard.”
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