Fossil reinforces the theory of link between Africa and America

Researchers from Rio Grande do Sul showed Tuesday that the fossil of about 240 million years of the skull of a cynodont, reptile very common to be found in Africa. According to the team of the Lutheran University of Brazil (Ulbra), the discovery, made in the municipality of Dona Francisca, in the central region of the state, strengthening the theory that South America and Africa were connected by land.

The species, named Luangwa, has similar characteristics to the mammals of today. The scientific name was given in tribute to the first description of a cynodont discovery in the valley of the Luangwa, Zambia.

“The existence of two fossils of the same group in regions so far reinforces our theory that the continents were united by a single block of land (Pang),” said biologist Roberto da Silva Lucio, one of the researchers responsible of the finding, along paleontologist with Sérgio Furtado Cabreira.

According to the team, the good condition of the fossil will facilitate research on the biology of the animal. “Around 90% of the skull is very well preserved in relation to other materials found, as jaws and teeth, which are well fragmented,” said the biologist.

Cynodonts

Analysis of the fossil’s teeth so far indicate that the cynodonts could be omnivores, herbivores and carnivores. Luangwa was an omnivorous group, which is fed with a varied diet of plants, invertebrates and small vertebrates. One could measure a few centimeters in height, but also reach up to 2 m.