In May 2025, scientists in Australia found the oldest fossil footprints of a reptile-like animal. These tracks were discovered near Melbourne on a flat piece of sandstone. The fossil is estimated to be about 350 million years old. The footprints show long toes and sharp claws, which suggest that the animal lived completely on land. This is important because earlier reptile footprints from Canada were only 318 million years old. The discovery helps researchers understand that land animals may have adapted more quickly than earlier believed. The study was published in Nature, and scientists said the creature may have looked like a modern lizard and grown up to 80 centimeters long.

The fossilized trackway revealed a sequence of movements. One animal walked across the area, and then light rain fell, leaving small marks on the surface. Later, two more reptiles passed in the opposite direction. The ground dried and was covered with layers of mud, which helped preserve the tracks. This area was once part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. It had a warm and wet climate with many forests. Experts described the tracks as invaluable because they show not only the shape of animals but also how they moved. The discovery gives unprecedented insight into evolution, helps explain how animals lived in the past, and supports more advanced research about vertebrate history and chronology.