Ancient Reptile Fossil Discovered in Brazil Offers Insights into Dinosaur Evolution

The newly identified Gondwanax paraisensis, dating back 237 million years, may help scientists understand the evolutionary rise of dinosaurs.

The fossil was discovered in the town of Paraiso do Sul in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state and dates back to the Triassic period.
Gondwanax paraisensis, a silesaurid, is roughly the size of a small dog and weighs between 3 and 6 kilograms.
Paleontologists are exploring whether silesaurids were true dinosaurs or precursors to them.
The fossil was found in 2014 by Pedro Lucas Porcela Aurelio and donated to a local university in 2021.
Research led by paleontologist Rodrigo Temp Müller highlights the fossil's significance in understanding dinosaur evolution.