Story perspectives

Ancient Reptile Fossil Reveals Earliest Amniote Breathing System

4/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

In a Nature study, researchers report a 289-million-year-old mummified reptile, Captorhinus aguti, from Oklahoma.
The specimen preserves skin, bones, and protein remnants.
It reveals the oldest breathing system in amniotes, dating to nearly 100 million years earlier than previous finds.
Researchers identified a segmented cartilaginous sternum and rib structures enabling reconstruction of the breathing apparatus.
The fossils are housed in the Royal Ontario Museum for further study.

1 of 1

Story summary

In a Nature study, researchers report a 289-million-year-old mummified reptile, Captorhinus aguti, from Oklahoma.
The specimen preserves skin, bones, and protein remnants.
It reveals the oldest breathing system in amniotes, dating to nearly 100 million years earlier than previous finds.
Researchers identified a segmented cartilaginous sternum and rib structures enabling reconstruction of the breathing apparatus.
The fossils are housed in the Royal Ontario Museum for further study.