Palaeontology

Prehistoric predator found in Namibia had toilet seat-shaped head

July 6, 2024

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney) Measuring 2.5 meters in length and sporting both deadly interlocking fangs and a head that was shaped like a toilet seat, this remarkable new species - named Gaiasia jennyae - was unearthed by palaeontologists recently in modern day Namibia.

Resembling a very large salamander, this enormous reptile likely roamed swamps and lakes where it sought out and devoured its prey using its powerful jaws.

It lived 280 million years ago, which was long before the dinosaurs had arrived on the scene.

"When we found this enormous specimen just lying on the outcrop as a giant concretion, it was really shocking," said Prof Claudia Marsicano of the University of Buenos Aires."I knew just from seeing it that it was something completely different. We were all very excited."

In total, the team found four incomplete fossil skeletons.

"It's got a big, flat, toilet seat-shaped head, which allows it to open its mouth and suck in prey," said study co-author Jason Pardo of the Field Museum in Chicago.

"It has these huge fangs, the whole front of the mouth is just giant teeth."

Source: The Conversation

Tags: Reptile