Revolutionary Fossil Fund: Oldest Repil foot traces discovered!

Zwei australische Hobby-Paläontologen entdeckten 355 Millionen Jahre alte Fußspuren, die die Evolutionstheorie herausfordern.
Two Australian hobby paleontologists discovered 355 million year old footprints that challenge evolution theory. (Symbolbild/NAGW)

Revolutionary Fossil Fund: Oldest Repil foot traces discovered!

Uppsala, Schweden - Two Australian hobby paleontologists, Craig Eury and John Eason, have made a remarkable find: they discovered petrified footprints of reptiles that are dated at an age of 355 million years. This find could consider the previous time frame of evolution significantly, since the oldest known fossils of early reptiles are only about 320 million years old. "The footprints speak for an original reptile that may have developed faster than previously assumed," said Ahlberg, vertebrate paleontologist at the University of Uppsala, which analyzed the footprints together with Australian colleagues. The results were published in the Nature magazine, which is a recognized success for the two hobby researchers, since they are noted as authors in the article-a rare honor for amateurs in this field.

The footprints that have claws were found, while the first sea creatures started to go land about 390 to 400 million years ago. Ahlberg emphasizes that both the shape and the proportions of the toes and their spreads represent clear signs of a reptile. The new find provides important indications that the evolution of the amniots is more complex than previously believed. There is still an incomplete fossil stock for the early development of this group that affects human ancestors. Therefore, the find could also lead to the evolutionary origin of the human being.

The role of paleontology

These new findings illustrate the role of paleontology in science. The area helps to promote our understanding of global environmental and climate changes. Paleontological research not only supports the knowledge of the evolutionary development of organisms, but also the reconstruction of past environmental scenarios. This information is crucial for coping with the challenges that humanity faces today, for example with regard to global warming and its consequences.

  • Paleontology linked fossil finds to the dynamics of their paleo world and the climate conditions of earth history.
  • Knowledge of past events can help to prevent or alleviate unwanted changes in today's environment.
  • The research of organic and geosphere interactions in earth past has not yet been fully completed.

The records from paleontology are essential in order to be able to link the tribal history and biology of today's organisms to genomic and ecological questions in the future. In view of the discoveries by Eury and Eason, Ahlberg also encourages young paleontologists to explore the earth and carry out their own excavations. The synthesis of fossil and biological data helps to better assess future developments in the biosphere.

The classification of living beings, based on common properties, is in the scientific discussion. The first person who classified living things was a Christian and creationist, and his views of evolution are now outdated. Modern taxonomy divides all living things into three domains: Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya. One of the eukaryotes that include people and animals is the animal kingdom, which in turn is divided into different groups. This classification is based on the body structure and development of organisms, which serves to understand their evolutionary relationships.

Overall, the current research shows how important the connection between past and the present is in paleontology and how such discoveries can generally formulate our knowledge of evolution and the development of our environment.

tagesschau.de reports that hobby paleontologists make essential contributions to science through their finds. href = "https://internet-evoluzzer.de/youtube-video-phylogenetical-parts-3-stammbaum-des-lebens/"> internet-evoluzzer.de Basic classifications of living beings and their importance for understanding of evolution. href = "https://www.palaeontologische-gesellschaft.de/palaeontology/Shisshikungen/"> palaeontologische-gesellschaft.de On the current relevance of paleontology for environmental research and future forecast.

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OrtUppsala, Schweden
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