Oldest Known Fossilized Reptile Skin Discovered in Oklahoma

300-Million-Year-Old Skin Provides Insights into Evolutionary Transition from Sea to Land

Paleontologists have discovered the oldest known fossilized reptile skin, dating back approximately 300 million years, in a cave system in Oklahoma.
The skin fragment, the size of a pinkie fingernail, is the earliest skin of a terrestrial animal ever found and provides insights into the evolution of skin as animals transitioned from sea to land.
The skin likely belonged to an early reptile, possibly an ancestral reptile known as Captorhinus aguti, which was common in the region during the Permian Period.
The skin shows signs of cornification, a process where the outer skin turns into a protective barrier against dehydration, a key adaptation for life on land.
The skin's structure closely resembles that of modern-day crocodiles, highlighting the success and longevity of this adaptation.