Reptiles have been growing armor in their skin on and off for hundreds of millions of years, but scientists never fully understood how it evolved. A massive new evolutionary study shows these skin bones appeared independently in multiple lizard groups rather than coming from a single armored ancestor. Even more astonishing, Australian goannas lost this armor long ago — then evolved it back again millions of years later.
Source: ScienceDaily | Evolutionary Biology
ScienceDaily | Evolutionary Biology
- Ancient DNA reveals how women helped transform prehistoric Europe
- This bizarre crocodile relative from the Triassic looked like an ostrich dinosaur
- This newly discovered raptor may have hunted like a giant heron
- This prehistoric fish may explain how animals first walked on Earth
- 100-million-year-old bug had crab-like claws unlike any known insect
- Scientists discover giant sea predator Tylosaurus rex that terrorized ancient oceans
- Scientists solve 320-million-year mystery of reptile bone armor
- Rare graves reveal a lost world of Bronze Age Europe hidden for 3,000 years
- Scientists think they’ve cracked the mystery of human right-handedness
- Stunning 150-million-year-old stegosaur skull rewrites dinosaur evolution
