In Nova Scotia, Canada, scientists have uncovered the skull of an ancient creature dating back approximately 307 million years, making it one of the oldest known plant-eating land vertebrates and a significant point in animal evolution.
The creature, named Tyrannoroter heberti, had a triangular skull shape that enabled it to have robust cheek muscles for consuming tough plant matter. It had specialized teeth in its mouth to crush, shred, and grind vegetation.
Although resembling a reptile, Tyrannoroter does not belong to that animal class; instead, it is classified as a member of a group known as microsaurs. While only the skull has been found by researchers, they estimate that Tyrannoroter measured around 12 inches (30.5 cm) in length and had a sturdy body similar to today’s blue-tongued skink based on related animal anatomy.
