Archaeology breakthrough as ‘remarkable’ new dinosaur species found | History | News

A new type of dinosaur, thought to have lived about 167 million years ago, was discovered in the UK. Jurassic reptile had the same proportions as a lizard, but with snake -like jaws and curved teeth such as a modern Python.

The fossilized skeleton of the reptile, one of the oldest dinosaurs known by science, was originally on Skye Island in Scotland nine years ago. Since then, scientists have gone through detailed scans to let them know more about species. Recently, they called it Breugnathair Elgolensis, which means “Elgol’s fake snake”, and now national museums are part of the Scotland (NMS) collection.

Researchers believe that species can be one of the Parviaptorides, the pioneers of all lizards and snakes.

Paleontology curator Dr. Roger Benson said: “Snakes are remarkable animals that develop long, prolonged bodies from lizard -like ancestors.

“Breugnathair has a snake -like feature of teeth and jaws, but it is surprisingly primitive in other ways.”

It was believed that the species was 41 cm (16 inches), which made it one of the largest lizards in the ecosystem. Researchers suspect that they have hunted young mammals and dinosaurs as well as smaller lizards.

It had a short body with completely shaped limbs such as lizards. Breugnathair Elgolensis had a chin like a snake and a python -like teeth.

Dr Stig Walsh, a curator at NMS, added: “Skye Island is one of the most important middle Jurassic areas in the world.

“Breugnathair Elgolensis is a remarkable contribution to the fossil recording and helps to rewrite our understanding of the evolution of snakes and lizards.

“We are happy to add to other surprising findings discovered in Scotland’s Jurassic Isle in the national collection.”