The smallest known dinosaur is actually a lizard, new findings show

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A newly described fossil preserved in amber reveals that a 99-million-year-old creature called Oculudentavis, recently heralded as a hummingbird-size dinosaur, was more likely a bizarre type of lizard.

In March, the first known amber-encased skull of Oculudentavis made a global splash, appearing on the cover of the scientific journal Nature and garnering widespread media coverage, including by National Geographic. At the time, the scientists interpreted the 14-millimeter-long skull as the preserved remains of an early toothed bird with lizard-like eyes. Since these types of prehistoric birds are recognized as part of the dinosaur family tree, the result was hailed as the smallest fossil dinosaur ever found.

However, the original fossil was just a skull, leaving the rest of its body unknown. Now, a team of paleontologists has identified a second fossil of Oculudentavis that includes both a skull and additional portions of a body. That fossil confirms that the critter was in fact a lizard—albeit a rather strange one.

“You’ve got this weird, big-eyed, kind of crested-nose thing that certainly doesn’t at first look like a lizard,” says study co-author Susan Evans, a paleontologist at University College London. “It’s weird, but it’s a lizard.”

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/08/smallest-dinosaur-known-actually-peculiar-ancient-lizard/

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5 minutes ago, FfFfFfFF said:

In March, the first known amber-encased skull of Oculudentavis made a global splash, appearing on the cover of the scientific journal Nature and garnering widespread media coverage, including by National Geographic. At the time, the scientists interpreted the 14-millimeter-long skull as the preserved remains of an early toothed bird with lizard-like eyes.

I actually remember doing a thread when the news of it being discovered originally came out.

How the world has changed since then..

[River 127,394]

lizard

[Twitter 14]

A lizard. Well I kinda expected that since those are the only animals (and chameleons) that seem the closests to dinosaurs.

[Million Gypsies 675]

I learn more and more everyday from GGD than I ever did in school 

[RRR 3,996]

YES, come through lizards, true Kings

[Lord Temptation 11,209]

18 minutes ago, LadyGoo said:

YES, come through lizards, true Kings

I AMMMMMM the Lizard Kween 

[Doot 2]

I love dinosaurs. 

Lizards are cool too. 

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51 minutes ago, River said:

lizard

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS GIF FOR OVER AN YEAR I LOVE YOU SO MUCH

[JusKeepBreathin 19,311]

43 minutes ago, Twitter said:

A lizard. Well I kinda expected that since those are the only animals (and chameleons) that seem the closests to dinosaurs.

Birds are closer. There are different discoveries that show dinosaurs had feathers. 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/7/140724-feathered-siberia-dinosaur-scales-science/