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The incomplete skeleton of a phytopharmaceutical reptile called the Gordodon was discovered near Alamogordo by Ethan Schuth during a field visit in March 2013 with his geology course at the University of l & # 39; Oklahoma.
Schuth contacted officials from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, who then collected the bones. Removing the fossil from hard sandstone has been a painstaking process for two years.
Once completed, the experts were able to conduct research on the fossil and present their findings.
They say that the unique structure of the skull, jaws and teeth shows that the reptile is a specialized herbivore and that knowledge is rewriting what scientists know about evolutionary chronology.
The reptile attached to the sail would be of the Permian age, it goes back to about 300 million years.
Experts claim that such specialized plant consumption was not known among reptiles dating back to before 200 million years ago.
"Previously, the oldest known animals with teeth as specialized as Gordodon were found in rocks dating from less than 205 million years ago, that is to say in the Triassic superior, "said Lucas. "Gordodon is expanding this advanced type of phytopharmacy by 95 million years. As a result, the Gordodon discovery rewrites the understanding of early paleontologists of reptilian herbalism. "
Scientists say the reptile would have been about five feet long and weighed about 75 pounds.
Click here to learn more about Spencer Lucas, Ph.D., Curator of Paleontology at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.
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