An exciting discovery has been made in Mallorca, where researchers have unearthed fossils of a creature that lived around 270 to 280 million years ago.
This ancient animal, found in the Tramuntana Mountains, is the oldest known member of the gorgonopsian group, a lineage of saber-toothed predators that eventually evolved into mammals.
The study, led by the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP) and the Museu Balear de Ciències Naturals (MUCBO), has been published in Nature Communications.
Gorgonopsians were fascinating creatures that lived during the Permian period, between 270 and 250 million years ago.
They were part of the evolutionary path that would lead to the first mammals 50 million years later.
Unlike modern mammals, gorgonopsians laid eggs but were warm-blooded like today’s animals. They were carnivores and were among the first creatures to develop saber teeth, making them fearsome predators.
Their bodies resembled those of dogs, but they lacked fur and ears.
The newly discovered gorgonopsian in Mallorca was a small-to-medium-sized animal about one meter long.
The fossils were found at a site in Banyalbufar after three excavation campaigns, during which a large number of remains were collected. These included skull fragments, vertebrae, ribs, and a remarkably well-preserved femur.
“The amount of material we found is incredible,” said Rafel Matamales, a researcher at ICP and curator of the Museu Balear de Ciències Naturals. “We didn’t expect to find so many fossils of this kind in Mallorca.”
This discovery is surprising for two main reasons. First, it’s the oldest gorgonopsian ever found, predating similar fossils from places like Russia and South Africa. Second, it’s the first of its kind discovered in the Balearic Islands, a location not previously associated with such ancient creatures.
“This is likely the oldest gorgonopsian on Earth,” said Josep Fortuny, senior author of the study.
Among the fossils, a nearly complete leg has provided researchers with valuable insights into how the animal moved.
Unlike reptiles, whose legs stick out to the sides, gorgonopsians had legs positioned more vertically under their bodies, allowing them to walk and run more efficiently.
The creature’s sharp saber teeth confirm it was a carnivore, likely preying on other animals in its environment. Researchers believe its habitat was a floodplain with temporary ponds, where it lived alongside herbivorous reptiles and other ancient creatures.
Interestingly, during the Permian period, Mallorca was not an island. It was part of the supercontinent Pangea and located near the equator, in a region with a monsoonal climate of wet and dry seasons.
This discovery adds to Mallorca’s already impressive fossil record, which includes finds like the world’s oldest mosquito and ancestors of horses and hippos. The fossils help paint a vivid picture of life millions of years ago and highlight the island’s importance in understanding Earth’s ancient past.
This find is another step in uncovering the mysteries of how mammals, and ultimately humans, came to be.
