In the Thuringian Forest, central Germany, an international team of scientists discovered skin impressions of reptile that are among the oldest known to date. These remains, found in the Goldlauter Formation, are approximately 298 million years old and revealed unprecedented details of the anatomy of the first reptiles, as published in the journal Current Biology. The investigations, led by Lorenzo Marchetti, determined the temporal origin of the fossils through radiometric dating of volcanic ash. This allowed identifying the earliest and most complete appearance of fossil impressions of skin associated with stem reptiles of the Paleozoic. The discovery occurred near the towns of Tabarz and Floh-Seligenthal, where footprints of primitive fauna were also found, according to the Natural History Museum of Berlin. Fossil impressions were linked to traces of rest and footprints of early reptiles, including footprints of Varanopus microdactylus. The visible structures correspond to the species Cabarzichnus pulchrus, which offered a direct look at the external appearance of the oldest terrestrial vertebrates of the Permocarboniferous environment.
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The combination of precise dating and the quality of the remains makes this finding the earliest direct evidence of reptile skin ever recorded. Both Current Biology and the Natural History Museum in Berlin highlighted its importance for paleontology and the understanding of the evolution of prehistoric reptiles. According to Current Biology, the impressions revealed patterns of epidermal scales in diamond shapes, hexagons, and elongated figures. The discovery facilitated the identification of the differentiation between epidermal scales, typical of current reptiles, and dermal scales, present in fish and earlier tetrapods. The preservation of these cutaneous structures is exceptionally rare in the fossil record. For this reason, the finding provided key information on the evolution of the integuments in terrestrial vertebrates. In addition, the similarities between these scales and those of later species showed the continuity of certain anatomical features throughout evolutionary history.Cloacal Opening and Unique Characteristics
One of the most notable aspects described by the team in Current Biology was the identification of a possible cloacal opening imprinted near the base of the fossil’s tail. This structure, common in terrestrial vertebrates except placental mammals, is rarely preserved in such old fossils.
According to Current Biology, the impressions revealed patterns of epidermal scales in diamond shapes, hexagons, and elongated figures. The discovery facilitated the identification of the differentiation between epidermal scales, typical of current reptiles, and dermal scales, present in fish and earlier tetrapods. The preservation of these cutaneous structures is exceptionally rare in the fossil record. For this reason, the finding provided key information on the evolution of the integuments in terrestrial vertebrates. In addition, the similarities between these scales and those of later species showed the continuity of certain anatomical features throughout evolutionary history.Cloacal Opening and Unique Characteristics
One of the most notable aspects described by the team in Current Biology was the identification of a possible cloacal opening imprinted near the base of the fossil’s tail. This structure, common in terrestrial vertebrates except placental mammals, is rarely preserved in such old fossils.
In this case, the researchers observed a narrow and elongated impression, with a shape and orientation that resemble those of turtles, lizards and snakes today. According to the authors, the registered morphology differs from that of dinosaurs and crocodiles, which added a relevant perspective to the study of the evolution of reptiles.
Analyses published in Current Biology indicated that, towards the end of the Carboniferous and the beginning of the Permian, stem reptiles already presented epidermal scales along with dermal scales. The coexistence of both cutaneous structures supported the hypothesis of an essential evolutionary transition that preceded the great climatic and environmental changes of the time. You can also read: They discover fossilized bee nests in the jaws of prehistoric mammals in the Dominican Republic The development of epidermal scales would have played a decisive role in the subsequent diversification of reptiles during the global warming and aridification of the early Permian. In this way, the finding contributes to accurately dating the appearance of anatomical adaptations that facilitated the colonization of terrestrial environments. The Natural History Museum in Berlin highlighted the fundamental role of fossil traces, such as impressions and footprints, in reconstructing the anatomy of primitive vertebrates. These findings complemented the scarcity of soft tissues in other fossil remains, enriching the knowledge about the early stages of animal evolution on land. Thus, the study of fossil traces allowed access to anatomical details that are rarely preserved in skeletons, which was key to understanding the transformation and adaptation of the first vertebrates to the terrestrial environment.
