A predecessor to dinosaurs known as archosaurs are mystifying creatures which have changed scientists perception not he timeline of evolution when it comes to dinosaurs. While archosaurs do share some similarities to dinosaurs genealogically speaking they do not represent a direct line of ancestors of dinosaurs. Finding more out about these species is important to scientists because of the success dinosaurs experienced on earth ruling for nearly 150 million years. As is the case with archosaurs, any relatives of dinosaurs can provide good information about how those incredible mammals evolved and lived for so long.

Key Takeaways:

• New fossil discoveries have scientist re-evaluating how they believe dinosaurs evolved.
• dinosaurs are considered one of the most advanced species in evolution according to most scientist.
• This discovery was a byproduct of a trip to Tanzania back in 2015.

“The 245-million-year-old fossils were some of the strangest ones Sterling Nesbitt had ever seen. Their bodies looked like crocodiles — stout and muscular, with four sturdy legs. But their necks and tails were unusually long, and the bones bore certain markings only found in dinosaurs.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/04/12/the-oldest-known-relative-of-dinosaurs-was-a-total-freak-experts-say/