A group of scientists in Australia discovered the oldest fossil footprints of a reptile-like animal, estimated to be around 350 million years old. The fossil was found near Melbourne on a slab of sandstone and shows long toes and hooked claws. These features suggest that the animal lived completely on land. This discovery is important because it shows that animals may have adapted to life on land faster than previously believed. Earlier fossil footprints from Canada were dated to 318 million years ago. The study, published in Nature, indicates that the creature may have looked like a modern monitor lizard and was about 80 centimeters long. Experts explained that claws are only seen in animals that evolved to survive without water for reproduction, which places this creature in the group known as amniotes. These animals include reptiles, birds, and mammals.

The fossilized trackway provide a detailed sequence of events. According to scientists, one reptile first crossed the area, followed by light rain, which created raindrop marks on the ground. After that, two more reptiles moved in the opposite direction. The ground later hardened and was covered with sediment, preserving the tracks. The area was once part of the supercontinent Gondwana and had a warm, humid climate with large forests. Experts said that fossil footprints are invaluable because they give information not just about the physical structure of animals but also about their behavior. The discovery offers unprecedented insight into the rapid terrestrial adaptation of early vertebrates and enhances the current understanding of evolutionary chronology.