Scientists have discovered the four-legged snake fossil from Brazil. The name of the specimen is “Tetrapodophis amplectus”. It was about the size of a pencil. This was a significant discovery and this will help scientists to link between lizards and snakes.
Scientists knew that snakes lost their limbs through evolution. Scientists have a very rich fossil record of snakes which shows the cranial adaptations of a snake. These have remnants of limbs.
The conclusion of the last discovery didn’t sit well with the theory of the scientists.
Scientists said that the species has raised red flags. In mid-20th century, Brazil had outlawed fossil exports. But this fossil was illegally exported. A private collector has bought the fossil and allowed the scientists to write about the fossil.
Scientists have gone to Germany to look over the fossil. This was kept in a private museum which had materials from the region.
Scientists explained fossil forms between layers of rock. The impression on the rock is extremely precisive and this is why it’s too valuable.
The fossil was extracted from the rock. The skeleton and skull were on the opposite sides of the slab. The shape was preserved as an impression on the opposite side.
Scientists said snakes have a mobile skull. In the skull many bones are reduced and loosely connected to each other. Snakes can also move several bones out of the way. They can still be connected to each other in the skull.
Some scientists have also argued that the specimen’s teeth were false.
Some said the teeth of the snake were designed to allow prey to go in one direction down the mouth.
Some scientists have found that Tetrapodophis amplectus wasn’t a snake. But its fossil is significant.
