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Ancient Footprints Rewrite Tetrapod Evolution Timeline

5/17/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Fossilized footprints unearthed in Australia, dating back around 350 million years, reveal that reptile-like creatures may have emerged 30-40 million years earlier than scientists believed. This groundbreaking discovery, featured in *Nature*, reshapes our understanding of tetrapod evolution during the Carboniferous period, suggesting that amniotes were already roaming the Earth.

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Story summary

Fossilized footprints unearthed in Australia, dating back around 350 million years, reveal that reptile-like creatures may have emerged 30-40 million years earlier than scientists believed. This groundbreaking discovery, featured in *Nature*, reshapes our understanding of tetrapod evolution during the Carboniferous period, suggesting that amniotes were already roaming the Earth.