Fossil remains of a giant salamander-like creature with sharp fangs, Gaiasia jennyae, have been revealed by scientists. The findings on the beast, that ruled the waters before dinosaurs, have been published in the journal Nature on Wednesday.

The predator, nearly 272 million years old, had a skull measuring about two feet long and was larger than a human. According to the researchers, it used its broad, flat head and front teeth to suck in and bite its unsuspicious prey.

“Gaiasia jennyae was considerably larger than a person, and it probably hung out near the bottom of swamps and lakes," said Jason Pardo, an NSF postdoctoral fellow at the Field Museum in Chicago and the co-lead author of the study.&nbsp;

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The fossil remains of the creature, believed to exist about 40 million years before the first dinosaur evolved, were collected about a decade ago. Researchers uncovered several specimens, including a well-preserved one comprising of skull and backbone.

“We had some really fantastic material, including a complete skull, that we could then use to compare with other animals from this age and get a sense of what this animal was and what makes it unique,” said Pardo.&nbsp;

Scientists have been examining such ancient predators to discover the lineages of tetrapods, four-legged animals that live on land and evolved into amphibians and mammals.

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Most such fossils of archaic tetrapods have been unearthed from the prehistoric coal swamps in the equatorial regions of North America and Europe. However, these recent fossil remains have been discovered in Namibia in Africa, which once was covered with layers of ice and glaciers. This implies tetrapods may have been living in colder conditions earlier.

“The fact that we found Gaiasia in the far south tells us that there was a flourishing ecosystem that could support these very large predators. The more we look, we might find more answers about these major animal groups that we care about, like the ancestors of mammals and modern reptiles," said Pedro.

The name Gaiasia jennyae originates from the location where it was found, the Gai-As rock formation in Namibia, and the name of palaeontologist, Jenny Clack, who specialised in evolution in early tetrapods.

(With inputs from agencies)

Fossil remains of a giant salamander-like creature with sharp fangs, Gaiasia jennyae, have been revealed by scientists. The findings on the beast, that ruled the waters before dinosaurs, have been published in the journal Nature on Wednesday.

Fossil remains of a giant salamander-like creature with sharp fangs, Gaiasia jennyae, have been revealed by scientists. The findings on the beast, that ruled the waters before dinosaurs, have been published in the journal Nature on Wednesday. The predator, nearly 272 million years old, had a skull measuring about two feet long and was larger than a human. According to the researchers, it used its broad, flat head and front teeth to suck in and bite its unsuspicious prey. “Gaiasia jennyae was considerably larger than a person, and it probably hung out near the bottom of swamps and lakes," said Jason Pardo, an NSF postdoctoral fellow at the Field Museum in Chicago and the co-lead author of the study. Also Read | Discovery of 40,000-year-old river system in Antarctica is a warning sign for humans The fossil remains of the creature, believed to exist about 40 million years before the first dinosaur evolved, were collected about a decade ago. Researchers uncovered several specimens, including a well-preserved one comprising of skull and backbone. “We had some really fantastic material, including a complete skull, that we could then use to compare with other animals from this age and get a sense of what this animal was and what makes it unique,” said Pardo. Scientists have been examining such ancient predators to discover the lineages of tetrapods, four-legged animals that live on land and evolved into amphibians and mammals. Also Read | Hippos can 'fly' as per a study. Yes, you read it right! Most such fossils of archaic tetrapods have been unearthed from the prehistoric coal swamps in the equatorial regions of North America and Europe. However, these recent fossil remains have been discovered in Namibia in Africa, which once was covered with layers of ice and glaciers. This implies tetrapods may have been living in colder conditions earlier. “The fact that we found Gaiasia in the far south tells us that there was a flourishing ecosystem that could support these very large predators. The more we look, we might find more answers about these major animal groups that we care about, like the ancestors of mammals and modern reptiles," said Pedro. The name Gaiasia jennyae originates from the location where it was found, the Gai-As rock formation in Namibia, and the name of palaeontologist, Jenny Clack, who specialised in evolution in early tetrapods. (With inputs from agencies)

Fossil reveals giant salamander-like creature that existed before early dinosaurs: Study

Chinese researchers have published a paper claiming to have found a prehistoric tapeworm partially intact inside a sample of 100-million-year-old amber. The mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber was discovered in Myanmar. According to the scientists at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the discovery of a tapeworm from this era is extremely rare, and it could bear the traces of DNA of its prehistoric host.

Tapeworms span from less than one millimetre to over 30 metres in length. They can infect humans, and livestock and live in almost all kinds of environments.

The discovery indeed is fascinating and reeks of the beginning of the Sci-fi movie&nbsp;Jurassic Park, where scientists used prehistoric mosquito remains to extract the DNA from extinct creatures from a time when dinosaurs ruled the Earth.

According to Luo Cihang, the first author of the study, “The current find is the most convincing body fossil of a platyhelminth ever found.”

<h2>The tapeworm may be carrying the DNA of dinosaurs</h2>

As per the research, the tapeworm might have hooked itself to the intestine of a host belonging to the Early Cretaceous period. The Cretaceous is usually noted for being the last portion of the "Age of Dinosaurs."&nbsp;

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It could mean that the tapeworm may be carrying DNA samples of various dinosaurs, including the large, meat-eating deinonychus, the horned carnotaurus, or a massive carcharodontosaurus, which boasted a bigger skull than a tyrannosaurus rex.

<h2>Host creature might be marine dinosaur</h2>

The study highlights that the amber was deposited into the amber on shore, indicating its host might have been a marine dinosaur. According to one theory, the host may have been trapped on land and died, causing the tapeworm to detach itself from the host’s intestine and move out of the body and into sticky amber.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiGndbKu7KFAxVqyDgGHSs0DzAQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-perseverance-rover-spots-thousands-of-unusual-white-rocks-on-mars-707669" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-perseverance-rover-spots-thousands-of-unusual-white-rocks-on-mars-707669&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiGndbKu7KFAxVqyDgGHSs0DzAQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">NASA`s Perseverance rover spots thousands of `unusual` white rocks on Mars</a>

As per another theory, the sea creature which hosted the tapeworm might have been eaten by a land-roaming dinosaur. As and when its host was being eaten, the tapeworm would have made its way out and be stuck in the amber.

(With inputs from agencies)

Chinese researchers have published a paper claiming to have found a prehistoric tapeworm partially intact inside a sample of 100-million-year-old amber. The mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber was discovered in Myanmar.

Chinese researchers have published a paper claiming to have found a prehistoric tapeworm partially intact inside a sample of 100-million-year-old amber. The mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber was discovered in Myanmar. According to the scientists at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the discovery of a tapeworm from this era is extremely rare, and it could bear the traces of DNA of its prehistoric host. Tapeworms span from less than one millimetre to over 30 metres in length. They can infect humans, and livestock and live in almost all kinds of environments. The discovery indeed is fascinating and reeks of the beginning of the Sci-fi movie Jurassic Park, where scientists used prehistoric mosquito remains to extract the DNA from extinct creatures from a time when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. According to Luo Cihang, the first author of the study, “The current find is the most convincing body fossil of a platyhelminth ever found.” The tapeworm may be carrying the DNA of dinosaurs As per the research, the tapeworm might have hooked itself to the intestine of a host belonging to the Early Cretaceous period. The Cretaceous is usually noted for being the last portion of the "Age of Dinosaurs." Also read: How do seafloors transform into towering mountains? Scientists uncover crucial step It could mean that the tapeworm may be carrying DNA samples of various dinosaurs, including the large, meat-eating deinonychus, the horned carnotaurus, or a massive carcharodontosaurus, which boasted a bigger skull than a tyrannosaurus rex. Host creature might be marine dinosaur The study highlights that the amber was deposited into the amber on shore, indicating its host might have been a marine dinosaur. According to one theory, the host may have been trapped on land and died, causing the tapeworm to detach itself from the host’s intestine and move out of the body and into sticky amber. Also read: NASA`s Perseverance rover spots thousands of `unusual` white rocks on Mars As per another theory, the sea creature which hosted the tapeworm might have been eaten by a land-roaming dinosaur. As and when its host was being eaten, the tapeworm would have made its way out and be stuck in the amber. (With inputs from agencies)

This 100mn-year-old creature found in amber once lived inside dinosaurs

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Fossil reveals giant salamander-like creature that existed before early dinosaurs: Study

This 100mn-year-old creature found in amber once lived inside dinosaurs