Tiny clawed tracks left in ancient mud are the oldest reptile footprints

Tiny clawed tracks left in ancient mud are the oldest reptile footprints

Fossilized footprints of a primitive reptile found on a slab of rock from Australia could rewrite the story of how animals evolved to live on land.

If you've always wanted to dig into fossils, we can only encourage you to do so. Perhaps you'll also make such a significant discovery as this one.

Ancient Fossil Tracks Push Back Reptile Evolution by 40 Million Years

Sydney, Australia (SPX) May 15, 2025 Fossil tracks uncovered in the Mansfield district of northern Victoria, Australia, indicate that reptiles may have appeared on Earth up to 40 million years earlier than previously believed. These newly discovered trackways, dating to the Carboniferous period roughly 350 million years ago, were made by clawed, reptile-like amniotes, challenging established timelines for the emergence of these ver

Scientists have found fossilized footprints of reptiles that are around 350 million years old. The new findings rewrite history and are being described as startling.

A remarkable fossil found - Alexandra Newspapers

THE Yea area is famed for its baragwanathia fossils, fossils of the earliest vascular land plant found in the world, dated to around 415 million years ago. The site is recognised as being of international significance. Mansfield Shire is now getting in on the action, with local fossil hunters finding evidence of amniotes, dating to 354 million to 358 million years ago. The fossil footprints show that the lizard-like amniotes evolved at least 40 …

Startling discovery – reptiles are 30 million years older than thought Scientists have found fossil footprints of reptiles that are around 350 million years old. The new findings are rewriting history and are described as startling. 17 footprints of reptiles preserved in a sandstone slab were recently discovered in southeastern Australia. The footprints show that reptiles are several million years older than previously thought, which means that…