The fossil remains of a sphenodontian, an ancient, lizardlike reptile, are helping span a 120-million-year data gap between its ancestors and today’s tuatara, which are the sole survivors of a once prominent group.
Sphenodontians evolved around the same time that dinosaurs did, about 235 million years ago. Sphenodontians flourished until 120 million years ago, when they disappeared from the fossil record known until now, says Fernando E.
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