A new species of lizard, misidentified as a bird, has been discovered in a recent study by an international team of researchers. According to the results published in Current Biology, it has been confirmed that the species called Oculudentavis Naga is an orchid. Previously, the species was listed as the smallest known bird after researchers identified it as a “dinosaur the size of a hummingbird.”
In an institutional press release, Arnau Polit of Barcelona’s Instituto Catala de Paleontology, Miquel Crosafont, who led the research team for the new discovery, said, “We were all confused at first by the specimen because if it’s a lizard, it’s very unusual. . . “
The specimen is of the same genus as Oculudentavis khaungraae and is named Oculudentavis naga in honor of the Naga people of Myanmar and India. It is represented by a partial skeleton that includes a complete skull preserved in amber, along with visible scales and soft tissue. The two exotic lizard fossils found are said to be around 99 million years old and were found in the same area.
Characteristics of Dragon Oculudentavis
The research team discovered the lizard-identifying characters by using CT scans to digitally separate, analyze and compare each species’ bones. What is so unique about the lizard is its very small, preserved skull with a short spine and shoulders.
“Ever since we got our first CT scan, everyone’s been thinking about what could happen,” said Juan Diego Daza, assistant professor of biological sciences at Sam Houston State University. “In the end, our closer look and analysis helped us clarify his position.”
While the bird-like skull proportions of Oculudentavis gave the researchers their money, study co-author Susan Evans, professor of vertebrate morphology and paleontology at University College London, said the results became clearer as the researchers digitally isolated each bone. and compare them to each other. Bones.
“Although it represents a domed skull and long tapered snout, it does not present a meaningful physical figure that could be used to maintain a close relationship with birds, and all of its features suggest it was a lizard,” he said.
The main discoveries of this mysterious reptile were the presence of scales and teeth attached directly to the jawbone, a lizard-like structure and shoulder blade, and a hockey stick-shaped skull bone that proved to be decisive. All these features are mostly shared by large reptiles.
(with agency input)
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