A new Jurassic lizard species has been identified with a baffling mix of traits seen in snakes and geckos, reshaping our understanding of reptile evolution.
Paleontologists have described Breugnathair elgolensis, a hook-toothed lizard that lived approximately 167 million years ago during the Middle Jurassic period.
Measuring nearly 16 inches (41 cm) from head to tail, the reptile combined snake‑like jaws and curved teeth with the short body and limbs of a gecko, alongside primitive features not found in living species.
New Jurassic Lizard Species and Its Unique Anatomy
The newly described Breugnathair elgolensis—Gaelic for “false snake of Elgol”—was discovered on the Isle of Skye in Scotland in 2016.
Researchers spent nearly a decade preparing and analyzing the fossil using CT scans and high‑powered X‑rays.
Fossil discovery reveals new species of fanged reptile that once roamed Scotland
The team led by #amnh @NtlMuseumsScotused the ESRF’s ID19 beamline to scan the tiny fossil fragments. The results are out now in @Nature https://t.co/3PSaPyaxpu pic.twitter.com/nueW7uQH1L— European Synchrotron (@esrfsynchrotron) October 1, 2025
The results revealed a mosaic of anatomical traits: head and body proportions similar to monitor lizards, snake‑like teeth and jaws resembling modern pythons, and gecko‑like skull features, reports SCI News..
Lead author Roger Benson of the American Museum of Natural History explained, “Breugnathair has snake‑like features of the teeth and jaws, but in other ways, it is surprisingly primitive.
“This might be telling us that snake ancestors were very different from what we expected, or it could instead be evidence that snake‑like predatory habits evolved separately in a primitive, extinct group.”
Evolutionary Significance of the Jurassic Lizard Discovery
The fossil belongs to an extinct family of squamates called Parviraptoridae, a group previously known only from fragmentary remains.
Its discovery provides one of the oldest relatively complete fossil lizards ever found, offering rare insight into the early diversification of squamates—an order that includes today’s lizards and snakes.
At nearly 16 inches long, Breugnathair was one of the largest lizards in its ecosystem, likely preying on smaller reptiles, early mammals, and even young dinosaurs. Its unusual combination of traits challenges long‑held assumptions about how snakes evolved from lizard‑like ancestors.
🚨Research alert! A recent study led by Museum Macaulay Curator Roger Benson details a new species of Jurassic reptile that has links to the origins of lizards & snakes 👉 https://t.co/snEOtvagEe pic.twitter.com/yzXW1u8CBX
— American Museum of Natural History (@AMNH) October 1, 2025
Susan Evans of University College London, who co‑led the study, compared the find to “finding the top of the jigsaw box many years after you puzzled out the original picture from a handful of pieces.”
Why the New Jurassic Lizard Species Matters Today
The discovery of Breugnathair elgolensis is more than a paleontological curiosity—it highlights how evolutionary paths can be unpredictable.
By showing that snake‑like features existed in a primitive lizard lineage, the fossil raises new questions about whether snakes evolved directly from such species or developed similar traits independently.
Additionally, the find highlights the global importance of the Isle of Skye’s Jurassic fossil deposits, which continue to yield crucial insights into the origins of modern reptiles, mammals, and even dinosaurs.
