Paleontology - Swamp creature from prehistoric times discovered
Researchers have discovered an equally unusual and impressive prehistoric thief in present-day Namibia. The head of this razor-toothed creature measured over half a meter, and the entire animal was around two meters long, as reported in the scientific journal "Nature" by the team. It likely lurked at the bottom of swamps and lakes around 300 million years ago, snatching passing organisms with its wide, flat mouth and holding them firmly with a powerful bite.
This creature, which resembles a giant salamander, has been scientifically named Gaiasia jennyae. Remains of this species were found in the Gai-As Formation in the northwest of Namibia, according to the team led by Jason Pardo from the Field Museum in Chicago. This creature, belonging to the Tetrapods, lived around 280 million years ago during the Permian period - long before the first dinosaurs appeared.
This was a particularly archaic species for that time - related organisms had already gone extinct around 40 million years earlier. The fact that it survived as a relic of earlier times seemed to have served the unusual creature well - it appears to have been the most significant predator in the ecosystem of that region. According to Pardo, other archaic animals before 300 million years ago were small and rare.
- Paleontology has shown that the environment of primeval times in Namibia was home to various animal species, including the recently discovered Gaiasia jennyae.
- The discovery of fossils in Berlin's Museum of Natural History revealed critical information about this ancient animal, shedding light on its diet and habitat.
- The razor-toothed creature's diet, as suggested by its sharp teeth and wide mouth, likely included smaller organisms that inhabited the lakes and swamps in Berlin during those times.
- Berlin's fossil records demonstrate that the Gaiasia jennyae is not an isolated case; numerous other fossilized animal remains exhibit similar traits, indicating a rich prehistoric biodiversity.
