\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nThe extinct species was discovered through a number of specimens, including a well-preserved fossil skeleton excavated from an Allosaurus nest in Wyoming.<\/p>\n
The creatures were discovered to be rhynchocephalian like the tuatara, an order that diverged from lizards at least 230m years ago. If studied further, this specimen could explain why the reptile was diverse and numerous in the Jurassic but is now an extinct species.<\/p>\n
The fossil of the extinct reptile is almost complete, with the exception of the tail and part of the hind legs. Such a complete skeleton is rare for an extinct species such as this, because they have frail bones that were either destroyed before they fossilised or eroded in the present day.<\/p>\n
Because of this, scientists mainly study the reptile\u2019s jaw and teeth. David DeMar, research associate at the National Museum of Natural History, used high-resolution technology to take multiple x-ray images to create a three-dimensional representation of the extinct species.<\/p>\n
The reconstructed three-dimensional skull provides researchers with a detailed image of the extinct reptile\u2019s skull, which helped them to discover what the creature may have eaten. Given its diminutive size, tooth shape and skull, DeMar concluded that the reptile likely ate insects, particularly prey with harder shells such as beetles or water bugs.<\/p>\n
The extinct species\u2019 skull essentially looks like a miniature version of its only surviving relative, the tuatara, which is about five times longer.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch a complete specimen has huge potential for making comparisons with fossils collected in the future and for identifying or reclassifying specimens already sitting in a museum drawer somewhere,\u201d DeMar said. \u201cWith the 3D models we have, at some point, we could also do studies that use software to look at this critter\u2019s jaw mechanics.\u201d<\/p>\n
Further research needed<\/h3>\n In the Jurassic period, rhynchocephalians were found worldwide, ranging in size and acted as fish hunters and plant munchers.<\/p>\n
This evolutionary chasm between lizards and rhynchocephalians helps explain the tuatara\u2019s odd features such as teeth fused to the jawbone, a unique chewing motion that slides the lower jaw back and forth like a saw blade, a 100-year-plus lifespan and a tolerance for colder climates.<\/p>\n
However, scientists are yet to understand why rhynchocephalians began to disappear as snakes and lizards became more common across the globe.<\/p>\n
The fossil is being retained by a collection of museums so scientists can perhaps discover why it is a mostly extinct species and the tuatara is all that remains of the rhynchocephalians, while lizards are now found across the globe.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese animals may have disappeared partly because of competition from lizards but perhaps also due to global shifts in climate and changing habitats,\u201d Carrano said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fascinating when you have the dominance of one group giving way to another group over evolutionary time, and we still need more evidence to explain exactly what happened, but fossils like this one are how we will put it together.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Researchers from Smithsonian have discovered a new extinct species of reptile that inhabited North America during the Jurassic age.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":25504,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24429],"tags":[3475],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Extinct species that lived amongst dinosaurs discovered after 150m years<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n