Paleontologists have discovered a new fossil species, Silescelida acristata, in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state, dating back approximately 240 million years to the Middle Triassic Period. This small reptile, found in rocks within the UNESCO Quarta Colônia Geopark, belongs to the archosauriformes, a group that includes the ancestors of modern crocodiles and dinosaurs. The fossil's unique femur structure suggests a semi-erect posture, indicating more efficient locomotion that was crucial for the later success of archosaurs. This discovery also expands the known geographic range of Euparkeriidae-related forms, suggesting these early archosauriformes were more widespread globally than previously understood. AI
RANK_REASON Discovery of a new fossil species published in a scientific journal. [lever_c_demoted from research: ic=1 ai=0.0]
- archosauriformes
- Brazil
- crocodile
- dinosaur
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
- Permian-Triassic mass extinction
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul
- Rio Grande do Sul
- Scientific Reports
- Silescelida acristata
- UNESCO Quarta Colônia Geopark
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria
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