Mother of all lizards lived in Italian Alps

Mother of all lizards lived in Italian Alps

News:

1. The science journal Nature has tracked the oldest lizard Magechirella in Italian Alps.

Important Facts:

1. Key observation of the Scientist about Magechirella

• Magechirella reptile is mother of all lizard and was ancestor of lizards and snakes.
• The tiny bone in Megachirella’s lower jaw that is unique to the squamate family.
• Magechirella is a tiny creature that has lived 240 million year ago.

1. The squamates reptiles had split from other ancient reptiles before the Permian/Triassic mass extinction some 252 million years ago.  Up to 95% of marine and 75% of terrestrial life of that time on earth was lost.

1. Magechirella was discovered 20 years ago and was buried in compacted sand and clay layers in the Dolomites mountain range in northeast Italy was initially mis-classified as a close lizard relative.