Forgotten for 20 Years, This 240-Million-Year-Old Fossil Reveals a New Reptile Species

Scientists formally described Silescelida acristata, a previously unknown Triassic reptile from Brazil.

The 240-million-year-old species was identified after missing fossil material from Rio Grande do Sul was recovered.

The find helps fill a key gap in the early evolution and spread of archosauriforms, the lineage that later gave rise to dinosaurs, crocodiles and birds.