India’s first well-preserved 200-million-year-old Phytosaur skeleton and egg fossils discovered in Rajasthan

First Well-Preserved Phytosaur Fossil Found in Rajasthan (Image: ANI)

A quiet village near Jaisalmer has revealed a piece of deep history. Locals digging near a lake in Megha stumbled on fossil remains that scientists now confirm belong to a prehistoric reptile called a phytosaur.

The fossil, measuring about two metres, was uncovered last week just 45 kilometres from Jaisalmer. Alongside the remains, experts also spotted what appeared to be a fossilised egg, possibly linked to the reptile. Geologists have dated the discovery to the Jurassic age.

How do scientists describe the fossil?
Professor V. S. Parihar of Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, explained the reptile resembled a crocodile and was likely around 200 million years old. He explained that phytosaurs probably lived near rivers, feeding on fish to survive. Though similar to crocodiles in shape, the two groups are unrelated. The only clear difference is that crocodiles have nostrils at the end of their snouts, while phytosaurs had theirs raised near the eyes.

#WATCH | Jaisalmer, Rajasthan: A 201-million-year-old phytosaur fossil resembling a crocodile was discovered in Jaisalmer. pic.twitter.com/jPi64y3Thx

— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2025

Why is this discovery significant?
A phytosaur fossil was reported last year on the Bihar-Madhya Pradesh border, but researchers say this is the first well-preserved specimen confirmed in India. The discovery highlights the rich fossil record of Jaisalmer, which falls under the Lathi Formation. Scientists believe this region, once a mix of rivers and seas, supported abundant aquatic and dinosaur life nearly 180 million years ago.

What do experts say about Jaisalmer’s fossil history?
Geologist Dr Narayan Das Inakhiya said the Lathi Formation stretches nearly 100 kilometres and records both marine and freshwater life. He added that Jaisalmer could one day be developed as a hub for geo-tourism, given earlier finds such as dinosaur eggs, bone fossils and footprints. He also pointed to underground water channels linked with the mythic Saraswati, which date back over 5,000 years.

Megha village crowds flocked to the area after the find, taking videos and pictures that soon went viral on social media. To them, it was a glimpse into the beasts of the past who inhabited the land now desolate desert.

The find is believed to be the fifth significant dinosaur-related discovery in Jaisalmer, cementing its place as one of India's most fertile fossil fields.

(Inputs from ANI)