New Jurassic Fossil Links Snakes and Lizards

Scientists have described a new Jurassic reptile, Breugnathair elgolensis, from the Isle of Skye in a Nature paper; the animal lived about 167 million years ago, measures roughly 16 inches long, and was named for the Elgol locality. The fossil combines snake-like jaws and highly recurved, python-like teeth with a short body and fully formed, gecko-like limbs. Using 3D imaging, X-rays and comparative phylogenetic analyses, researchers reconstructed a near-complete skeleton and showed the chimeric anatomy belongs to a single individual. The authors place Breugnathair in the enigmatic Parviraptoridae or as a stem-squamate, suggesting it may illuminate early squamate feeding adaptations and the lizard-like ancestry of snakes. The specimen was recovered near Elgol by National Museums Scotland and is now in their collection, underscoring the Isle of Skye’s global importance for understanding early lizard and snake evolution.