The Huggy Snake
Dave Martill, University of Portsmouth
This 113-million-year-old fossil is said to be the first direct ancestor of the snake. It was found with four legs, which were likely used for burrowing.
Scientists at the University of Portsmouth and the University of Bath unearthed the fossil and classified the species as Tetrapodophis amplectus. Tetrapodophis, the genus, is a new classification for four-footed snakes, and amplectus means "embrace." "It would sort of embrace or hug its prey with its forelimbs and hindlimbs. So it's the huggy snake," Dr. Nick Longrich told the BBC
No comments:
Post a Comment