Ancient Reptile Tracks Rewrite When Animals Conquered Land

A monitor lizard, which researchers said might look a little like the ancient reptile ancestor that made the footprints (Credit: AFP)

After a brief rain in part of the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana 350 million years ago, a reptile pressed its small claws into the still-wet ground.

Its tracks, which have been discovered in Australia, mean it is the oldest-known vertebrate animal to have permanently abandoned the oceans for dry land, a study suggested on Wednesday.