Discovery of new fossil shows snakes once had back legs

For years, scientists have been studying the evolution of snakes, with their belief being that these reptiles once had legs. 

However, that was purely a theory... until now.

According to CNN, over the years, theories have suggested that these limbs were merely a transient phase before snakes quickly adapted to their current limbless form.

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Recently published in the Science Advances journal, snake fossils suggest they actually had back legs for an extended period of time. 'Najash Rionegrina' was a type of early snake with back limbs. Researchers uncovered eight fossils, including one that was almost perfectly intact.

Najash had features more similar to lizards, such as a cheekbone arch, as well as more snake-like features, including the lack of a bony arch connecting the skull to the cheekbone. 

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Michael Caldwell, co-author and professor at the University of Albertaz, said: "This research revolutionizes our understanding of the jugal bone in snake and non-snake lizards, after 160 years of getting it wrong, this paper corrects this very important feature based not on guesswork, but on empirical evidence.

"Overall, their research provided an in-depth look at the snake body plan. Due to the lack of forelimbs, the researchers believe they disappeared much earlier before hindlimbs. This research is critical to understanding the evolution of the skulls of modern and ancient snakes."

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