An international research team has made a groundbreaking discovery in paleontology by examining a rare fossil of Austronaga minuta, a long-necked marine reptile thought to have lived 245 million years ago. This fossil, found in China, is unique as it preserves the creature’s complete digestive system, making it the oldest known example of such in reptiles. Researchers utilized advanced analytical techniques to identify its organs, revealing a simple digestive tract and a single-chamber stomach, indicating the early evolutionary adaptations of archosaurs to marine life. This study sheds light on how land-dwelling reptiles evolved into highly specialized aquatic animals. The findings were published in Science Advances.
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Link to original article source: https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-discover-a-245-million-year-old-reptile-with-its-organs-still-preserved/
