New species of ancient reptile found in P.E.I.
QMI Agency
First posted: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 03:51 PM EST
A 304-million-year-old fossil of a lizard-like animal found by a boy years ago while on vacation in western P.E.I. is a species new to science, new research says.
The fossil, coined Erpetonyx arsenaultorum, was named after Michael Arsenault who found the specimen on a beach and eventually sold it for at least five figures to Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in 2004, said Sean Modesto, a biology professor at Cape Breton University.
The fossil is the only known reptile from the Gzhelian time period, said Modesto, the lead author of research published Wednesday in the journal Royal Society Proceedings B.
All of the other reptile fossils that have been found are 299 million years old at most.
This newly discovered reptile had sharp teeth, claws and a tail as long as its hamster-sized body. Modesto said it probably fed on bugs and other small animals.
The creature, which predates dinosaurs by nearly 80 million years, likely lived in a tropical-like forest.
Modesto said Arsenault kept the fossil safe underneath his bed until a buyer could be found and the proceeds funded his post-secondary education.
The fossil will be displayed at the ROM in Toronto this year.
This extremely rare dinosaur reptile fossil, discovered by a P.E.I. boy on his family farm, is more than 300 million years old. (QMI Agency/Diane Scott of the University of Toronto in Mississauga)
New species of ancient reptile found in P.E.I. | Canada | News | Toronto Sun
QMI Agency
First posted: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 03:51 PM EST
A 304-million-year-old fossil of a lizard-like animal found by a boy years ago while on vacation in western P.E.I. is a species new to science, new research says.
The fossil, coined Erpetonyx arsenaultorum, was named after Michael Arsenault who found the specimen on a beach and eventually sold it for at least five figures to Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in 2004, said Sean Modesto, a biology professor at Cape Breton University.
The fossil is the only known reptile from the Gzhelian time period, said Modesto, the lead author of research published Wednesday in the journal Royal Society Proceedings B.
All of the other reptile fossils that have been found are 299 million years old at most.
This newly discovered reptile had sharp teeth, claws and a tail as long as its hamster-sized body. Modesto said it probably fed on bugs and other small animals.
The creature, which predates dinosaurs by nearly 80 million years, likely lived in a tropical-like forest.
Modesto said Arsenault kept the fossil safe underneath his bed until a buyer could be found and the proceeds funded his post-secondary education.
The fossil will be displayed at the ROM in Toronto this year.
This extremely rare dinosaur reptile fossil, discovered by a P.E.I. boy on his family farm, is more than 300 million years old. (QMI Agency/Diane Scott of the University of Toronto in Mississauga)
New species of ancient reptile found in P.E.I. | Canada | News | Toronto Sun