Ancient reptile fossil shines new light on early marine evolution

Scientists have discovered a 246 million-year-old marine reptile fossil, the oldest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. This finding sheds light on the early evolution of marine mammals. The fossil belongs to a type of ancient aquatic reptile known as a Sauropterygian, specifically a nothosaur. Nothosaurs lived during the Triassic period, between 251 and 200 million years ago. Previously, fossils of these creatures had only been found in the Northern Hemisphere. The discovery of this fossil in New Zealand raises questions about how these reptiles migrated across the supercontinent of Pangea. The fossil pushes back the record of sauropterygians in the Southern Hemisphere by over 40 million years, offering insights into their global adaptation and the formation of complex marine ecosystems. Further research is planned to trace the migration patterns of these creatures around the supercontinent.