The origins of snakes have baffled scientists for decades. How did these limbless, slithering predators evolve from their distant lizard ancestors? A remarkable discovery on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, may hold the key to this evolutionary mystery. Palaeontologists uncovered the fossil of a unique Jurassic reptile, Breugnathair elgolensis, which displays an extraordinary combination of features from both snakes and lizards. With a short, lizard-like body and limbs, yet jaws and backwards-curving teeth resembling modern pythons, this fossil challenges long-held assumptions about snake evolution. Dating back approximately 167 million years, B. elgolensis provides critical insight into the early evolutionary history of squamates, bridging the gap between lizard-like ancestors and the snakes we know today, while shedding light on their anatomical adaptations and ecological roles.
Breugnathair elgolensis: Ancient fossil shows how snakes evolved from lizards
The fossil was first uncovered in 2016 near the village of Elgol on Skye. Researchers named the creature Breugnathair elgolensis, meaning “false snake of Elgol,” in honour of the discovery site. Despite being a partial specimen, the fossil reveals a striking combination of features. The reptile had a short, lizard-like body and limbs, yet its jaws and backward-curved teeth resembled those of a modern python.This mix of traits has intrigued paleontologists because snakes and lizards, while related as squamates, are only distant cousins in the evolutionary tree. The discovery of B. elgolensis adds a key piece to the puzzle of how snakes evolved from lizard-like ancestors. Study lead author Roger Benson, curator at the American Museum of Natural History, explained, “Breugnathair has snake-like teeth and jaws, but in other ways, it is surprisingly primitive.” This mosaic of traits provides rare insight into evolutionary experimentation during the Jurassic period.The fossil includes 32 vertebrae and parts of the femur and tibia, with growth marks suggesting the specimen lived for at least nine years. Notably, gecko-like features are observed in the skull and bones, highlighting its transitional nature between lizards and snakes.
Early snake evolution seen in breugnathair elgolensis fossil
Breugnathair elgolensis has been classified in a newly defined family called Parviraptoridae. Previously, this family contained only a few fragmentary fossils that might represent the earliest snake ancestors. Dating back approximately 167 million years, B. elgolensis represents one of the oldest and most complete Jurassic lizards known, providing invaluable data on the early evolution of snakes and lizards.Susan Evans from University College London, who co-led the study, compared the discovery to completing a jigsaw puzzle after decades of work. She emphasized that the “primitive and specialized features” seen in parviraptorids remind us that evolution often takes unpredictable paths.
Fossil reveals diet, size, and snake-like traits
Using a combination of CT scans, X-rays, and morphological analysis, researchers reconstructed the life of Breugnathair elgolensis. The creature measured roughly 40 centimeters (16 inches) in length and likely preyed on smaller lizards, early mammals, and possibly baby dinosaurs.Earlier interpretations speculated that the fossil contained remains from two separate animals. However, researchers now believe it represents a single species with a unique combination of lizard and snake characteristics. Benson noted, “This fossil may indicate that snake ancestors were very different than previously thought, or that snake-like predatory behaviors evolved independently in a primitive, extinct group.” The discovery involved an international team including experts from the American Museum of Natural History, National Museums Scotland, University College London, University of Cambridge, and the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. The fossil was also analyzed using high-powered X-rays at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in France.Dr. Stig Walsh, who found the fossil near Elgol, highlighted the importance of Skye as a Middle Jurassic fossil hotspot. “Breugnathair elgolensis is a remarkable addition to the fossil record, helping to rewrite our understanding of the evolution of snakes and lizards,” he said.
Breugnathair elgolensis sheds light on the evolution of snakes from lizards
The discovery of Breugnathair elgolensis provides a rare glimpse into the transitional forms that bridge the evolutionary gap between lizards and snakes. It supports the idea that early snakes may have descended from lizard-like ancestors with diverse predatory adaptations. While it does not fully solve the mystery of snake origins, it brings researchers closer to answering one of paleontology’s most enduring questions: where did snakes come from?The fossil of Breugnathair elgolensis reshapes our understanding of squamate evolution. Its combination of lizard-like limbs and snake-like jaws demonstrates the complexity and unpredictability of evolutionary paths. As research continues, scientists hope to uncover more fossils that illuminate the origin story of snakes, one of the most fascinating lineages in the reptile world.Also Read | NASA’s Perseverance rover captures mysterious interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on Mars: Is it alien probe or just a cosmic artefact
