New Crocodile Ancestor Discovered: Garzapelta muelleri Sheds Light on Triassic Era

Aetosaurs, armored relatives of crocodiles, dominated before dinosaurs, with a new species identified in Texas.

A new species of aetosaur, Garzapelta muelleri, has been identified by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin.
The discovery is based on a nearly 70% complete aetosaur suit of armor, providing unprecedented insight into the species.
Garzapelta muelleri lived approximately 215 million years ago and featured heavy armor and curved spikes for protection.
The study highlights convergent evolution, as similarities in armor were found between distantly related aetosaur species.
The research contributes to understanding the diversity and evolutionary history of aetosaurs, with implications for the study of extinct species.