A group of scientists have found the oldest fossilized skin in history in caves in the United States. It belonged to an ancient reptile that lived in the early Permian period, during the Paleozoic era. A very very long time ago: between 289 and 286 million years ago.

The skin in question is fragmented into very small pieces, which together do not reach the size of a human fingernail. This is a sample of the epidermis, the outer layer of skin of amniotes, a group of animals that includes land reptiles, mammals and birds.

Researchers found it along with other fossils that were hidden in a limestone cave system in Oklahoma. This fossilized skin has at least 21 million years older than others found previously.

If you were to see it under a microscope, you would notice that it looks a bit like the skin of a crocodile or snake. Fossil skin has small hinges between the scales, according to a research report published this week in the journal. Current biology.

Their discovery demonstrates that the epidermis, which was an important evolutionary adaptation in the transition to life on land, was already present when the first amniotes began to branch into different life forms.

Skin and other soft tissues rarely survive the passage of time. But a number of circumstances contributed to the discovery of this fossilized piece of skin hundreds of millions of years later. “The animals entered this cave system in the early Permian and were buried in very fine clay sediments, which slowed the decomposition process,” said Ethan Mooney, a paleontologist at the University of Toronto and lead author of the paper. statement. .

Oldest fossilized skin holds clue to evolutionary processes

Fragments of the oldest skin fossil found so far. Credit: Current biology.

An amateur collector found the oldest fossilized skin while working in the Richards Spur cave system, north of Lawton, Oklahoma. The subject donated it to researchers in 2018.

This cave system was also the site of active oil seepage. Thus, the interaction of petroleum hydrocarbons, resin, and the lack of oxygen in these deep locations undoubtedly contributed to the preservation of the specimen.

Experts were able to date the fossil based on previous research published in 2013. “We were completely shocked by what we saw because it was completely different from anything we expected,” Mooney said. “Discoveries like this could truly enrich our understanding and perception of these pioneer animals.”

The team determined that the fossilized skin has the characteristics similar to those of extinct species Captorhinus agoutione of the first amniotic vertebrates to walk the Earth. Analysis suggests that the species had flexible and resistant bands of skin or epidermal tissue that likely served protective functions. However, because fossil skin is not associated with a skeleton or other remains, it is impossible to determine exactly what animal species or body region the specimen belongs to.

Other fossils found in these caves included several fragments of skin and scales from anamniotes, animals that breed in water. The discovery may also shed light on the later development of feathers and hair in some species. Scientists emphasize that the fact that this fossilized skin resembles the skin of living reptiles demonstrates how important these structures are for survival in terrestrial environments.

Source: Hiper Textual

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