"Triassic Discovery: Uncovering a New Crocodile Ancestor in Ancient Tanks"
Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have identified a new aetosaur species, Garzapelta muelleri, from a 70% complete suit of armor found in northwest Texas. This heavily armored crocodile ancestor lived about 215 million years ago and had bony plates embedded in its skin, along with curved spikes for protection. The study also revealed that the spikes on Garzapelta evolved independently, leading to challenges in determining its place in the aetosaur family tree. The research highlights the significance of museum collections in paleontological studies and raises questions about the impact of age and sex on aetosaur armor appearance.