Not long ago, a group of researchers stumbled upon a fossil record that has now been identified as the oldest known Gorgonopsian—a prehistoric predator that roamed the Earth over 250 million years ago. This incredible discovery, beneath the island’s scenic cliffs, not only pushes back the timeline for the Gorgonopsians’ existence but also provides vital clues about the evolutionary journey of therapsids, the ancestors of modern mammals.
The fossil, discovered in the Port des Canonge Formation of Mallorca in the western Mediterranean, is believed to be from the late Cisuralian to early Guadalupian stages of the Permian period. This timeline places the fossil at an astonishing age of approximately 265 to 290 million years, marking it as one of the earliest therapsids, if not the oldest, ever found. Until this discovery, the oldest known unequivocal therapsid was Raranimus dashankouensis, found in central-east Asia, considered to date back to the Roadian stage of the middle Permian.
A team of renowned paleontologists such as Christian F. Kammerer, Kenneth D. Angielczyk, and Tiago R. Simões led the discovery. Their groundbreaking work was published in Nature Communications, providing the scientific community with a fresh perspective on the early evolution of therapsids.
Therapsids, a subgroup of synapsids, are known for their mammal-like characteristics. The Gorgonopsians, a specialized group of therapsids, are characterized by their elongated canines and were apex predators of their time. The presence of a Gorgonopsian in Mallorca is highly significant as it suggests that these creatures occupied a much wider geographical range than previously thought. This challenges long-held assumptions that therapsids primarily resided in more temperate or higher latitudes.
The fossil, cataloged as specimen DA21/17-01-01, is a partial skeleton consisting of cranial fragments, sections of vertebrae, and portions of the limbs. Although incomplete, these remains reveal that the individual was a small Gorgonopsian with a skull approximately 18 centimeters long. Its morphological features include a steeply inclined mandibular symphysis and a distinct pattern of teeth that set it apart from other contemporaneous species. These characteristics not only confirm its classification within the Gorgonopsia clade but also hint at its evolutionary adaptations that may have played a role in its survival in diverse environments.
One cannot help but wonder about the world this creature inhabited. The climate during the Permian in Mallorca was semi-arid, akin to a tropical summer wet biome, punctuated by seasonal river systems and floodplains. This environment provided a unique backdrop for the Gorgonopsian’s existence, offering both challenges and opportunities in its quest for dominance in the prehistoric ecosystem.
What makes this discovery even more intriguing is its implication on the broader evolutionary timeline. The presence of such an advanced therapsid at this period suggests that the diversification of therapsids occurred much earlier and possibly faster than previously believed. This could mean that these creatures were already spreading across the planet while undergoing significant evolutionary changes, eventually leading to the emergence of mammals.
The discovery in Mallorca underscores the importance of examining underexplored regions in paleontology. It highlights the potential for groundbreaking finds that can challenge and refine our understanding of life’s history on Earth. Despite the passage of eons, the fossil’s well-preserved state provides a rare glimpse into the intricate dance of evolution that played out long before humans walked the Earth.
Reference
Kammerer, C. F., Angielczyk, K. D., Simões, T. R., Mujal, E., Galobart, À., & Fortuny, J. (2024). Early–middle Permian Mediterranean gorgonopsian suggests an equatorial origin of therapsids. Nature Communications, 15(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54425-5
