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6 clusters · 39 sources · 36 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: INTERNATIONAL · TECHNOLOGY · CULTURE

Brazilian fossil research expands across taxa

Entities: Brazil · Cretaceous Period · Tametara mirim · Princeton University · Tiago Simoes

Overview

June 2026 saw an international team report soft‑tissue preservation and steroid biomarkers in a 113‑million‑year‑old Brazilian pterosaur. In July, the Triassic reptile *Silescelida acristata* extended Euparkeriidae into South America, a Devonian mollusk *Actinopteria grahni* illuminated ancient shallow‑sea ecosystems, and a new Cretaceous beetle family Cratocupedidae filled a geographic gap in early insect records. A well‑preserved Cretaceous snake, *Tametara mirim*, from São Paulo was described, revealing a burrowing lifestyle through CT‑based reconstructions of brain and inner‑ear anatomy.

Later in July, two additional reports—published on 23 July and 26 July—provided further analysis of the *Tametara* specimen. High‑resolution scanning confirmed the dense skull roof and reduced visual centers, reinforcing the hypothesis that early snakes were fossorial. The studies also refined neuro‑anatomical interpretations, underscoring the rarity of articulated Cretaceous snake fossils and strengthening the view that underground adaptation preceded later snake diversification. Together, these findings highlight Brazil’s growing prominence in vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology and the expanding use of advanced imaging to uncover deep‑time biodiversity.

Timeline

  1. 14 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Brazilian 80‑million‑year‑old snake fossil sheds light on early evolution

    A 75‑85 Myr‑old Brazilian snake fossil, Tametara mirim, shows a burrowing lifestyle and offers new evidence on early snake evolution, according to a Nature study led by Princeton's Tiago Simoes.

  2. 17 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 10 sources
    Brazilian Cretaceous snake fossil reveals early snake evolution

    A 42‑cm Cretaceous snake fossil named Tametara mirim, found in São Paulo, Brazil, reveals early snakes were burrowers and offers rare insight into snake evolution.

  3. 22 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Ancient 113‑million‑year‑old beetle fossils uncovered in Brazil with 3D CT scanning

    Brazilian‑German team identifies a new 113‑million‑year‑old beetle family in Ceará using 3D CT scans, marking the first Archostemata record in South America.

  4. 28 days ago

    [CULTURE] 5 sources
    Brazil uncovers new Triassic reptile and Devonian mollusk fossils

    Brazil announced two new fossil species: a Triassic reptile (*Silescelida acristata*) from Rio Grande do Sul and a Devonian mollusk (*Actinopteria grahni*) from Paraná, enhancing knowledge of ancient ecosystems

  5. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Brazilian fossil finds and turtle study reshape understanding of reptile evolution

    Brazilian scientists described a 240‑million‑year‑old reptile, Silescelida acristata, while a U.S. study links turtles more closely to crocodiles and birds, reshaping reptile evolution.

  6. about 2 months ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 16 sources
    Brazilian 113‑million‑year‑old pterosaur fossil reveals new preservation mechanism

    A Brazil‑based study uncovered a new fossilisation process that preserved soft tissues and steroids in a 113‑million‑year‑old pterosaur, highlighting the Araripe Basin’s importance.

Sources

arroyodiario.com.ar · conosceregeologia.it · consecti.org.br · correiodealagoas.com.br · destakjornal.com.br · dsvc.com.br · escrevendofutebol.com.br · exame.com · excelsior.com.mx · foxweather.com · freguesianews.com.br · futebolparameninas.com.br · gasprocessing.com · grupoparanacomunicacao.com.br · jeremoaboagora.com.br · m.scmp.com · magazin.hrt.hr · maracanaonline.com.br · memesita.com · metis-in-mv.de · mrnews.com.br · noticiabrasil.net.br · olhardigital.uol.com.br · portalgilbertosilva.com.br · portalterradaluz.com.br · prosaepolitica.com.br · revistavigor.com.br · santotomealdia.com.ar · scitechdaily.com · surenio.com.ar · tn.com.ar · tnh1.com.br · tocka.com.mk · tribunapr.com.br · tvsaj.com.br · ubirataonline.com.br · ultimosegundo.ig.com.br · wdez.com · wkzo.com

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history