Discovery proves reptiles were first vertebrates on dry land

Researchers yesterday announced proof that reptiles were the first vertebrates to conquer dry land with the discovery of 318-million-year-old footprints.

The fossilised reptile footprints were found in sea cliffs on the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada by Howard Falcon-Lang of Royal Holloway, University of London. The discovery proves the theory that reptiles were the first to make the continental interiors their home.

This is because reptiles do not need to return to water to breed unlike their amphibian cousins.

The rocks in which they occur show that the reptiles lived on dry river plains hundreds of miles from the sea.

These pioneers then paved the way for the diverse ecosystems that exist on land today, the study showed.

The study, undertaken with Mike Benton, professor of the University of Bristol, and Canadian colleagues, was published in the journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology.

Prof. Benton said: "The footprints date from the Carboniferous Period when a single supercontinent (Pangaea) dominated the world.

"At first, life was restricted to coastal swamps where lush rainforest existed, full of giant ferns and dragonflies.

"However, when reptiles came on the scene, they pushed back the frontiers, conquering the dry continental interiors." The same team reported the oldest known reptile footprints from a different site in New Brunswick in 2007.

The new discovery is of a similar age, and maybe even older.

Dr Falcon-Lang added: "The Bay of Fundy is such an amazing place to hunt for fossils.

"The sea cliffs are rapidly eroding and each rock-fall reveals exciting new fossils. You just never know what will turn up next."