Ancient Flying Reptile Unearthed in Somerset Hills

A University of Bristol student, Mike Cawthorne, has discovered the partial skeleton of a 200-million-year-old gliding reptile called Kuehneosaurus in Somerset. The reptile, resembling a lizard but closely related to crocodilians and dinosaurs, had the ability to glide from tree to tree using its elongated side ribs. The discovery was made while researching reptile fossils from limestone quarries on the Mendip Palaeo-island, which was a sub-tropical island during the Late Triassic period. The study also revealed the presence of other small reptiles, such as the trilophosaur Variodens and the aquatic Pachystropheus, indicating a diverse ecosystem in the area.