Most creatures that we find trapped in amber are insects. Rarely do we encounter fossilized remains of vertebrates. Scientists were very fortunate to discover the well-preserved remains of this extinct lizard (classified into a new species: Retinosaurus hkamentiensis). The lizard was so well-preserved that scientists were able to examine its skeleton and its external appearance! Even the double eyelids of its left eye remained. Because of the excellent preservation of the lizard in the amber, scientists were able to create a lifelike rendering of the creature.
Upon closer inspection, scientists have found the Retinosaurus to resemble a skink that echoes some features of xantusiids (also called "night lizards") in North America. It might mean that it is a proto-xantusiid.
(Images: Joseph Bevitt/Edward Stanley/Andrej Čerňanský et al via Syfy)
#Paleontology #Lizard #Retinosaurus #Amber