Fossils reveal giant predator with 'toilet seat-shaped' head before dinosaurs
Scientists have discovered fossils of a giant salamander-like predator named Gaiasia jennyae, which lived approximately 280 million years ago, predating dinosaurs by 40 million years. The creature, found in the Gai-As rock formation in modern-day Namibia, had a wide, flat head and sharp fangs, and was larger than a person. This ancient predator likely ambushed prey in swampy waters using its interlocking teeth.
The discovery, led by Dr. Jason Pardo from the Field Museum in Chicago and Claudia Marsicano from the University of Buenos Aires, suggests that tetrapods, four-legged animals, may have thrived in colder climates earlier than previously thought. The area where the fossils were found was once covered in glaciers and ice, indicating a significant shift in understanding tetrapod evolution. The findings provide new insights into the adaptability and environmental range of early tetrapods during the Permian period.
