The lizard of 99 million years ago preserved in amber is analyzed by modern technology and the history of evolution of reptiles is traced

Resin solidified at high temperature and high pressureamber(Amber) has been useful as a jewelry since ancient times, but sometimes insects, plants, small animals are found trapped inside, it is useful as a rare gem even among amber. Especially valuable amber containing 99 million years ago lizard found in Myanmar among amber with high value as a research material to know the ancient creatures, as well as being a precious stone is an American researcher It is analyzed as valuable material that traces the evolution of living organisms.

Mid-Cretaceous amber fossils illuminate the past diversity of tropical lizards | Science Advances
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/3/e1501080

99m-year-old lizard trapped in amber could give clue to 'lost ecosystem'
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/mar/06/99m-year-old-lizard-trapped-in-amber-could-give-clue-to-lost-ecosystem

Amber-trapped lizard fossils reveal 'lost world' - BBC News
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35718404

This is an amber with a lizard discovered in Myanmar. It is believed to be a lizard of 99 million years ago from the age of amber, and it has updated the oldest record of reptiles (amber chameleons) in amber that have been found until 75 million years. By the way, this lizard seems to be a growing child.


You can also check your hands clearly. The researchers were delighted to a very good preservation state that the shape of the lizard can be clearly confirmed.


This time, the analyzed lizard in amber contains 12 bodies including the world's oldest lizard found in Myanmar. Through an individual collector, 10 bodies are said to be the American Museum of Nature and 2 bodies were kept by Harvard University. These specimens are gathered, and X-rays andScanning electron microscope(SEM), it seems that it was decided to be analyzed by a method not damaging amber and lizard.


The skeleton was analyzed with X-rays.


Moreover, we were able to perfectly confirm scales and hand fins with a microscope.


From the results of the analysis, the lizards are classified by excavation sites (habitats) ......


From the morphological investigation as a line chart, the history of the evolution of the lizard was overwritten.


It is confirmed that there is a distinctive tongue in the world's oldest lizard, and that the function of this tongue is thought to have evolved to chameleon afterwards. In addition, it seems that functional hands that can climb up to branches, which are the features of contemporary lizards, have also been developed much later than 99 million years. Professor Juan Diego Daza of Sam Houston State University, who led the research, said, "A wonderful fossil of both quality and quantity expresses the diversity of lizards," skeleton, internal organs, scales, etc. are conserved We hope that the amber specimens filled will fill the evolutionary line of evolution between ancient reptiles and contemporary descendants.