Its name is Tetrapodophis amplectus , and “it has a long body and a very short tail, like those of a burrowing animal”, as defined by Nicholas R. Longrich, a researcher at the University of Bath (United Kingdom) and co-author of the study.
According to the SINC platform, the fossil presents characteristics similar to those that modern snakes still have , such as fangs, a short snout or the absence of eyelids and openings in the ears. "These traits suggest that the species and therefore the origin of the snakes occurred in burrows", Longrich specifies.
In order to reach this conclusion, the experts analyzed the DNA and morphological characteristics of Tetrapodophis amplectus, and compared them with that of other species. Thus, they can affirm that the new species moved by crawling on its belly like the rest of its relatives, which indicates that "the legs were not used to walk but to grab their prey or other specimens to mate." In addition, it had a small animal in its belly, possibly a lizard or a frog, which shows that the first snakes were carnivorous and not insectivorous as had been suggested ", comments the British researcher.
In addition, the discovery of the new fossil has allowed scientists to clarify the geographical origin of these reptiles, which occurred about 115 million years ago in the current southern hemisphere , when Africa and South America were united.
Image: Illustration of Tetrapodophis amplectus, from Julius T. Cstonyi.
