Ancient fossil skin reveals pre-dinosaur mystery

Experts have discovered that a cave in the US preserves the world's oldest fossilized skin layer, dating back 289 million years.

While excavating at the Richards Spur limestone cave in Oklahoma, USA, scientists from the University of Toronto unexpectedly discovered a mysterious strange object. Photo: @University of Toronto.

It is an extremely well-preserved piece of fossilized animal skin. Photo: @University of Toronto.

Further exploration and archaeological research revealed that the fossilized skin belonged to Captorhinus aguti, an early reptile that lived during the Permian period, about 289 million years ago. Photo: @University of Toronto.

It is not too difficult to see that the skin has a rough surface and looks quite similar to today's crocodile skin. Photo: @University of Toronto.

“The preservation of the Captorhinus aguti skin in this case is unique because of the unique characteristics of the Richards Spur cave system, including fine clay sediments that slow decomposition, as well as the low-oxygen cave environment,” said Ethan Mooney, a professor at the University of Toronto. Photo: @University of Toronto.

According to Ethan Mooney, the animal likely fell into this cave system during the early Permian period and was buried in very fine clay sediments, which slowed decomposition. This skin was the first thing our team found. Photo: @University of Toronto.

“Finding fossil skins this ancient is a unique opportunity to look back in time and see what the skin of some of the earliest prehistoric animals looked like,” Ethan Mooney added. Photo: @University of Toronto.

Dear Readers, please watch the video : "Opening" the 3,000-year-old mummy of an Egyptian Pharaoh: "Shocking" real appearance and earth-shattering secrets. Video source: @VGT TV - Life.

(According to Sci.news)

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