Ancient Venomous Reptile Fossil Unearthed in Arizona, Revealing Evolutionary Secrets
A newly discovered species of small, venomous reptile, Microzemiotes sonselaensis, has been unearthed in the Late Triassic Chinle Formation of northeastern Arizona, offering new insights into the evolution of venomous feeding strategies in reptiles and deepening our understanding ofancient ecosystems in the southwestern United States.
The discovery, recently published in PeerJ Life & Environment, sheds light on the independent evolution of venom delivery systems inreptiles. The fossil, consisting of a partial left dentary (jawbone), features distinctive grooves on the teeth, believed to be a hallmark of a reptile that used venom to subdue its prey.
This find marks the third venomous reptile from the Late Triassicand the earliest known reptile with venom-conducting teeth preserved in the lower jaw. Prior evidence of venom use in Late Triassic reptiles was limited to isolated teeth belonging to the genus Uatchitodon.
The newly described species, Microzemiotes sonselaensis, boasts two deep grooves on each tooth, extending the entire length of the tooth crown, similar to the venom-conducting grooves found in modern beaded lizards and rear-fanged snakes. These grooves likely facilitated venom delivery, suggesting that the species relied on venom for its feeding strategy.
The teeth of Microzemiotes sonselaensis are approximately ten times smaller than those of Uatchitodon, indicating that venom use may have evolved independently in multiple reptilian lineages with varying body sizes. Microzemiotes sonselaensis was a very small reptile, likely no more than 30 centimeters in length.
This discovery provides compelling evidence for the early evolution of venom delivery systems in reptiles, highlighting the diversity of feeding strategies employed by ancient reptiles. It also underscores the importance of studying fossil remains to unravel the evolutionary history of these fascinating creatures.
References:
- PeerJ: https://peerj.com/articles/18279/
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