Australian scientists have unearthed the oldest known reptile-like animal footprints, dating back 350 million years. The discovery, published in Nature, pushes back the timeline for land-based vertebrate evolution. Found near Melbourne, the footprints reveal a 2.5-foot-long creature with hooked claws, indicating a fully terrestrial lifestyle. This predates previous findings by approximately 32 million years and suggests a faster-than-expected transition from aquatic to terrestrial life for early vertebrates.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.