Half reptile, half mammal: Scientists discover fascinating creature

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The limestone cliffs of Mallorca hold many secrets. In their folds, paleontologists have unearthed the remains of a unique creature: a meter-long predator, devoid of fur and external ears, whose anatomy defies our usual classifications.

This creature is a Gorgonopsian, of which researchers have just discovered the oldest fossilized specimen ever found. The results of their excavations were published on December 17 in Nature Communications.

Synapsids: precursors of mammals

The Gorgonopsid belongs to the group of synapsids, those creatures that paved the way for the emergence of mammals. These animals, which appeared more than 270 million years ago, already had some of the traits that we associate with mammals today, while retaining ancestral reptilian characteristics close to dinosaurs.

The specimen from Majorca perfectly illustrates this duality: its skeleton reveals an intermediate posture, its limbs being neither completely spread out like those of reptiles, nor erect under the body like those of mammals.

It laid eggs, like reptiles, but its endothermic metabolism allowed it to maintain a constant body temperature, unlike the latter. This means that he was already able to regulate his body temperature by producing internal heat, independently of the external temperature. An asset that reptiles do not have, forced to expose themselves to the Sun, or on the contrary to seek shade to cool off.

The dawn of saber-toothed predators

The discovery of this Gorgonopsian fossil deflects the trajectory of the history of saber-toothed predators. Until now, these emblematic fangs were associated with relatively recent mammals, such as the famous Smilodon. This prehistoric feline, which roamed the plains of North America 2.5 million years ago, had upper canines that could reach 28 centimeters long. However, the fossil from Majorca completely overturns this chronology.

Josep Fortuny, a researcher at the Institut Català de Paleontologia (ICP) in Barcelona, ​​explains: “This discovery pushes back the origin of saber teeth by more than 267 million years ». Saber teeth are therefore not an evolutionary innovation of prehistoric felines, but a predatory strategy that emerged very early in the history of terrestrial vertebrates.

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What makes this discovery particularly fascinating is that nature has invented saber teeth multiple times, in different evolutionary lineages. Paleontologists speak of convergent evolution: when faced with similar challenges, different groups of animals independently develop comparable anatomical solutions.

In the case of the Gorgonopsian from Majorca, its elongated canines probably allowed it to effectively pierce the thick skin of its prey, a hunting technique that would later be adopted by various groups of mammals.

This early adaptation of sabre teeth in the Majorcan Gorgonopsian shows us that major morphological developments can appear much earlier than we thought, and sometimes in unexpected forms. The history of life on Earth is not a linear path, but rather a complex tapestry where adaptations can emerge, disappear, and reappear over millions of years.

A Glimpse of Life on Earth Millions of Years Ago

The discovery of this fossil not only tells us about the animal itself, but also reveals a whole section of the geological history of our planet. At the time when this Gorgonopsian lived (the Permian, from 270 to 250 million years before our era), Majorca was not the Mediterranean island that we know.

This region was an integral part of the supercontinent Pangea and was located at an equatorial latitude, comparable to that of the current Congo. The climate alternated between very wet and very dry periods, creating a dynamic environment where floodplains and temporary pools attracted a wide variety of wildlife. These watering holes became oases of life, attracting a diversity of herbivores that came to drink there.

It is in this context that Àngel Galobart of the ICP replaces the ecological role of the Gorgonopsian: ” Sabre teeth often characterize large predators in ecosystems, and our specimen likely occupied this niche in its environment “.

This observation makes perfect sense in the landscape described: the watering holes constituted ideal hunting areas for a predator on the lookout. The Gorgonopsid could ambush its prey when they came to drink, using the dense vegetation of the banks as cover. A real little T-Rex.

• Paleontologists have discovered a unique fossil of a sabre-toothed predator in Mallorca that is more than 270 million years old: the Gorgonopsian.
• This specimen, from the earliest precursors of mammals, combines reptilian traits with advanced adaptations such as an endothermic metabolism.
• This discovery pushes back the origin of sabre-toothed animals, showing that they appeared well before mammals, thanks to a process of convergent evolution.

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