The fossil, named Cryptovaranoides microlanius or "hidden lizard, small butcher," was first described by University of Bristol researchers Dr. David Whiteside, Dr. Sofia Chambi-Trowell, and Professor Mike Benton. Their 2022 study indicated it was a close relative of modern anguimorph lizards like anguids and monitors. This discovery moved the origins of the Squamata group back by 35 million years.
"We knew our paper would be controversial," said Dr. Whiteside. "But we were confident that we had looked at every possible feature and compared it with everything we could."
Controversy arose in 2023 when a rival team argued that Cryptovaranoides was not a lizard or even a lizard relative, but an archosauromorph - more closely aligned with crocodilians and dinosaurs. In response, the Bristol team conducted a fresh analysis of the original specimen and X-ray scans, revealing intricate anatomical features concealed within the rock.
"We found that most of the concerns raised were wrong," explained Dr. Chambi-Trowell. Professor Benton added, "All the details of the skull, the jaws, the teeth, and the limb bones confirm that Cryptovaranoides is a lizard, not an archosauromorph."
The team's findings, published in Royal Society Open Science, include detailed refutations of the criticisms and additional evidence, such as 3D scans and high-resolution images.
To settle the debate, phylogenetic analyses were conducted, coding hundreds of anatomical features from Cryptovaranoides, modern lizards, fossil lizards, and archosauromorphs. "We ran the analysis time after time, and it gave our original result, that the little Bristol reptile is indeed the world's oldest modern-type lizard," concluded Dr. Whiteside.
Research Report:Cryptovaranoides microlanius is confirmed as a squamate, not an archosauromorph.
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