Lizard Preserved in Amber Fossil Is Almost 100 Million Years Old

A team of scientists found the fossil of a nearly 100-million-year-old lizard.

ByABC News
March 7, 2016, 6:37 PM
This CT image of the proto-chameleon shows the enlarged Hyoid bone in blue. This bone is part of the ballistic tongue apparatus in modern chameleons and suggests that the fossil had a similar projectile tongue.
This CT image of the proto-chameleon shows the enlarged Hyoid bone in blue. This bone is part of the ballistic tongue apparatus in modern chameleons and suggests that the fossil had a similar projectile tongue.
E.Stanley via Florida Museum of Natural History

— -- A team of scientists have found the fossil of a nearly 100 million-year-old tiny lizard, which could be the oldest chameleon ever found by a long shot – 78 million years.

Researchers found the well-preserved lizard while sifting through fossils at the American Museum of Natural History in New York that were made available by a private collector. They published their findings Friday in the journal Science Advances.

"We happened upon it really, honestly it was very surprising," said Edward Stanley, a herpetology researcher at the Florida Museum of Natural History who was part of the five-member research team. "Even more so, to find these animals as deep back in time as we’re finding them is truly remarkable."

The dime-size chameleon, which was originally found in Southeast Asia decades ago, is one of a dozen reptiles that were preserved in amber in what is now Myanmar. The lizards were likely caught in sticky tree resin, unable to tear free and instead preserved in almost pristine condition with bones, toe pads, teeth and even scales intact.

The chameleon fossils and the remains of 11 other lizards uncovered by the researchers are providing scientists with a peek into how lizards have evolved. The scientists said, for instance, that the age and location of the fossils challenge the previously held belief that chameleons originated in Africa.

PHOTO: This photo shows the hindlimb of an agamid lizard, with some of the color pattern still observable.
This photo shows the hindlimb of an agamid lizard, with some of the color pattern still observable.
PHOTO: The photo shows 3D printed replicas from the CT scans printed at 5-10 times the original size.
The photo shows 3D printed replicas from the CT scans printed at 5-10 times the original size. 3D printing of rare specimens helps make them available to a wide range of scientists, students and the general public.

"It was surprising to find those kind of lizards in that period," Stanley said.

While the fossils have been around for years, the breakthrough for researchers was the result of being able to precisely identify the type of lizards entombed in the amber by using advanced CT digital scanners.

"It was amazing at the quality of the various specimen and what we were not only able to see under the microscope but with other technology," said Stanley.