Is this the oldest unborn reptile ever found?
It's a small swimming reptile called Mesosaurus, and there's a tiny skeleton inside its body.
About two hundred and seventy-eight million years ago, it hunted tiny crustaceans in a salty inland sea.
This adult was found in Brazil. Between its ribs lies a second skeleton, with a head far too big for its body.
Was it a meal? The scientists say no. Stomach acid would have marked those little bones, and they're clean. So they think she was a pregnant mother.
In Uruguay, another tiny one turned up, alone. Curled up, less than six inches long, like a baby inside an egg.
But no eggshell was found around it.
So maybe Mesosaurus gave birth to its babies. Or maybe it kept its eggs inside until they were almost ready to hatch. The fossils fit both.
Either way, these are the oldest reptile embryos anyone has found.
So, the oldest unborn reptile ever found? As far as we know, yes. Born or hatched is still an open question.
