201-Million-Year-Old Fossil of Crocodile-Like Reptile Unearthed in Jaisalmer
Scientists have discovered a nearly complete fossil of a phytosaur, an ancient crocodile-shaped reptile, in a village in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The fossil is estimated to be 201 million years old, placing it in the Early Jurassic period, predating most dinosaurs. This is the first phytosaur fossil found in Jurassic-era rocks in India and one of the oldest fossils ever found in the country. The significant discovery offers valuable insights into the region's prehistoric ecosystem and the creatures that inhabited it.
Unpacked:
This is the first well-preserved phytosaur fossil from Jurassic-era rocks found in India, making it a landmark find. It provides rare evidence of prehistoric life from over 200 million years ago and helps fill gaps in the fossil record for the Indian subcontinent, offering insights into ancient ecosystems and the distribution of these reptiles.
A phytosaur was a large, semi-aquatic reptile that lived during the Late Triassic and possibly into the Early Jurassic. Although they looked similar to crocodiles, phytosaurs are only distantly related; both are archosaurs, but they evolved similar body shapes independently (convergent evolution). Their nostrils were set high on the skull, unlike crocodiles.
Finding a semi-aquatic phytosaur fossil suggests that the Jaisalmer region, now a desert, once had abundant rivers or lakes supporting rich aquatic life. This discovery indicates a drastically different prehistoric ecosystem in the area, with habitats suitable for large aquatic predators.
Phytosaurs are generally known from the Late Triassic (about 229–200 million years ago). Finding one in Early Jurassic rocks is unusual, as most evidence suggests they went extinct at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. This makes the Jaisalmer fossil especially rare and scientifically valuable.