In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have unveiled the fossils of a colossal salamander-like creature, named Gaiasia jennyae, that roamed the Earth’s waters before the emergence of dinosaurs. This prehistoric predator, larger than a human, boasted a wide, flat head and sharp front teeth, suggesting it used its formidable jaw to suck in and crush unsuspecting prey. The skull of this ancient beast measured approximately 2 feet (60 centimeters) in length.
The study, published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, was based on the analysis of fossil remains collected about a decade ago, including a partial skull and backbone. The discovery challenges the conventional understanding that early tetrapods, four-legged animals that transitioned from fins to fingers and eventually evolved into amphibians, birds, and mammals, primarily thrived in hot, prehistoric coal swamps along the equator in North America and Europe.
Interestingly, the fossils of Gaiasia jennyae were discovered in modern-day Namibia, a region that was once covered in glaciers and ice during the time of its existence, around 280 million years ago. This finding suggests that tetrapods may have adapted to colder climates earlier than previously believed, raising questions about the timeline and conditions under which they dominated the Earth.
Co-author Claudia Marsicano, a researcher from the University of Buenos Aires, emphasized the complexity of the early tetrapods’ history, stating, “The early story of the first tetrapods is much more complex than we thought.” The creature’s name is a tribute to the Gai-As rock formation in Namibia where the fossils were found and to the late paleontologist Jennifer Clack, who dedicated her career to understanding tetrapod evolution.
