Namibia Yields Giant Permian Predator Gaiasia jennyae Fossil

Paleontologists have described a new giant stem‑tetrapod, Gaiasia jennyae, from fossils uncovered in Namibia. The animal lived about 280 million years ago in the Permian period and possessed a skull nearly 60 cm long with robust teeth, indicating an ambush‑hunting lifestyle in swampy environments. The find demonstrates that large vertebrates inhabited cold, high‑latitude regions of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, expanding the known geographic range of early tetrapods beyond equatorial zones.

The species name honors the late paleontologist Jenny Clack for her contributions to understanding vertebrate evolution. Researchers say the discovery provides new insight into the diversity and adaptability of early land vertebrates and encourages further exploration of under‑studied African fossil sites.