Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Ancient Fossil Sparks Debate on Snake Ancestry

10/7/2025

37 2

Summary

Story summary

Breugnathair elgolensis, a Scottish fossil dating to 167 million years ago, shows snake-like and lizard-like traits.
It has curved teeth like snakes but retains lizard-like body proportions and limbs.
Researchers remain unsure if it is an early snake ancestor or an evolutionary oddity.
Discovered on the Isle of Skye, it ranks among the oldest complete squamates and may shape snake-ancestry studies.

1 of 1

Story summary

Breugnathair elgolensis, a Scottish fossil dating to 167 million years ago, shows snake-like and lizard-like traits.
It has curved teeth like snakes but retains lizard-like body proportions and limbs.
Researchers remain unsure if it is an early snake ancestor or an evolutionary oddity.
Discovered on the Isle of Skye, it ranks among the oldest complete squamates and may shape snake-ancestry studies.