Fossil Discovery in Brazil Could Help Explain Rise of Dinosaurs
2024-10-17
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1Scientists in Brazil recently announced the discovery of one of the world's oldest reptile remains.
2They say the bones - dating back to around 237 million years ago - may help explain the rise of the dinosaurs.
3The four-legged reptile species is called Gondwanax paraisensis, researchers recently announced in a statement.
4The animal is believed to have been near the size of a small dog, with a long tail.
5The small reptile would have lived in the Triassic Period on land which is today southern Brazil.
6During this period - from 252 million to 201 million years ago - the world was much hotter.
7The fossil was identified as a new silesaurid, a group of reptiles believed to have died off in a mass extinction event.
8Experts have debated whether silesaurids were true dinosaurs or if they came before dinosaurs.
9"Understanding the characteristics of these precursors could shed light on what was crucial for the dinosaurs' evolutionary success," a statement from the researchers said.
10In 2014, Pedro Lucas Porcela Aurelio, a medical doctor, found the remains in a piece of rock in the town of Paraiso do Sul.
11The town sits in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul.
12The Gondwanax paraisensis fossil comes from a time when dinosaurs as well as mammals, crocodiles, turtles and frogs first appeared.
13Aurelio gave the remains to a local university in 2021, beginning three years of research.
14"Being the first human to touch something from 237 million years ago is extraordinary," Aurelio told Reuters. "It's an indescribable feeling."
15The research was led by Brazilian scientist Rodrigo Temp Müller, a paleontologist.
16His findings recently appeared in an article in the publication Gondwana Research.
17Müller said, "The most important part of this finding is its age. Because it's so old, it gives us clues as to how dinosaurs came to be."
18Müller added that when Aurelio gave researchers the remains, they were covered by a thick layer of rock.
19At first, only parts of the backbone could be seen.
20Gondwanax means "lord of Gondwana."
21The name suggests the Gondwana landmass in the southern area of the supercontinent Pangaea.
22Pangaea later broke apart into continents.
23The name paraisensis honors the town of Paraiso do Sul.
24I'm John Russell.
1Scientists in Brazil recently announced the discovery of one of the world's oldest reptile remains. They say the bones - dating back to around 237 million years ago - may help explain the rise of the dinosaurs. 2The four-legged reptile species is called Gondwanax paraisensis, researchers recently announced in a statement. The animal is believed to have been near the size of a small dog, with a long tail. 3The small reptile would have lived in the Triassic Period on land which is today southern Brazil. During this period - from 252 million to 201 million years ago - the world was much hotter. 4The fossil was identified as a new silesaurid, a group of reptiles believed to have died off in a mass extinction event. Experts have debated whether silesaurids were true dinosaurs or if they came before dinosaurs. 5"Understanding the characteristics of these precursors could shed light on what was crucial for the dinosaurs' evolutionary success," a statement from the researchers said. 6In 2014, Pedro Lucas Porcela Aurelio, a medical doctor, found the remains in a piece of rock in the town of Paraiso do Sul. The town sits in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul. 7The Gondwanax paraisensis fossil comes from a time when dinosaurs as well as mammals, crocodiles, turtles and frogs first appeared. 8Aurelio gave the remains to a local university in 2021, beginning three years of research. 9"Being the first human to touch something from 237 million years ago is extraordinary," Aurelio told Reuters. "It's an indescribable feeling." 10The research was led by Brazilian scientist Rodrigo Temp Müller, a paleontologist. His findings recently appeared in an article in the publication Gondwana Research. 11Müller said, "The most important part of this finding is its age. Because it's so old, it gives us clues as to how dinosaurs came to be." 12Müller added that when Aurelio gave researchers the remains, they were covered by a thick layer of rock. At first, only parts of the backbone could be seen. 13Gondwanax means "lord of Gondwana." The name suggests the Gondwana landmass in the southern area of the supercontinent Pangaea. Pangaea later broke apart into continents. The name paraisensis honors the town of Paraiso do Sul. 14I'm John Russell. 15Sergio Queiroz and Diego Vara reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 16____________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18fossil - n. a remnant of an organism that has been preserved in the earth's crust 19extinction - n. a situation in which a kind of animal no longer exists 20characteristic - n. a distinguishing trait, quality, or property 21precursor - n. one that comes before and indicates the approach of another; an animal from which another animal evolves from 22extraordinary - adj. going beyond what is usual or regular