New study shifts origin of the lizard-snake group to 205 million years

A storeroom specimen that changed the origins of modern lizards by millions of years has had its identity confirmed.

In a research paper, University of Bristol researchers described Cryptovaranoides microlanius from the Late Triassic of the United Kingdom as the oldest crown squamate, lizard-snake group. This study shifts their origin by 30 million years, back to 205 million years old, making it the oldest modern-type lizard on record. However, this study was challenged and Cryptovaranoides were reinterpreted as an archosauromorph. Now, the Bristol researchers have deemed the rival study as void, and put forth evidencfes supporting their claims.

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