A TINY, 166-million-year-old fossil lizard unearthed in Scotland shows “evolution in action” and is helping shed light on how reptiles came into existence, scientists have said.
The complete, well-preserved remains of the 6cm-long creature, which lived during the age of dinosaurs, was discovered in the Isle of Skye in 2016.
Dubbed Bellairsia gracilis, it belongs to a wider animal group known as squamate reptiles.
The experts said their findings, published in the journal Nature, could help in “filling gaps in our understanding of evolution and the history of life on Earth”.
Dr Mateusz Tałanda of the University of Warsaw and University College London (UCL), who is the first author on the study, said: “This little fossil lets us see evolution in action.
“In paleontology, you rarely have the opportunity to work with such complete, well-preserved fossils coming from a time about which we know so little.”
There are more than 10,000 squamate species today – from snakes and chameleons to geckos.
The origins of squamates are thought to lie some 240 million years ago but a lack of fossils has made their early evolution difficult to trace.
The Bellairsia fossil comprises a near-complete skeleton in life-like articulation – the most complete fossil lizard of this age anywhere in the world, according to the researchers.
The only elements absent from the skeleton are the snout and tail, the paleontologists added.
Study co-author Dr Elsa Panciroli of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and National Museums Scotland, who discovered the fossil, said: “It was one of the first fossils I found when I began working on Skye.
“The little black skull was poking out from the pale limestone, but it was so small I was lucky to spot it.
“Looking closer I saw the tiny teeth, and realised I’d found something important, but we had no idea until later that almost the whole skeleton was in there.”
To get a more complete picture of Bellairsia, the researchers used an imaging technique known as CT scan – usually used by medical professionals to obtain internal images of the body – to reconstruct the skeleton of Bellairsia.
The scans allowed the researchers to examine the creature in even greater detail, including the skull, hindlimbs and pelvis.
Analysis suggests Bellairsia belongs to what the researchers describe as the “stem” of the squamate family tree and split from other lizards just before the origin of modern groups.
Study co-author Professor Susan Evans, of UCL, who first described and named Bellairsia from a few jaw and skull bones from Oxfordshire 25 years ago, added: “It is wonderful to have a complete specimen of this tantalising little lizard, and to see where it fits in the evolutionary tree.
“Through fossils like Bellairsia we are gaining a better understanding of early lizard anatomy.
READ MORE: We're offering a year-long subscription – at the price you can afford
“Angus Bellairs, the lizard embryologist after which Bellairsia was originally named, would have been delighted.”
Bellairsia is one of several new fossil discoveries from the island, including early amphibians and mammals, which are revealing evolution of important animal groups that persist to the present day.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel