Scientists reveal fossil of tree-climbing reptile from Jurassic era after 90 years

Ancient Fossil Puzzle Solved: Tree-Climbing Reptile Revealed After 90 Years (Image: Victor Beccari, SNSB/LMU)

Sometimes, history hides in plain sight. That’s what a young palaeontologist found when two fossil halves, separated for nearly 90 years, finally came together. This rare reunion has revealed the full skeleton of Sphenodraco scandentis, a long-limbed, tree-climbing reptile from the Jurassic era.

Fossil Halves Reunited Across Two Museums
The fossil was first found in the 1930s in Germany’s Solnhofen limestone, famous for preserving Jurassic life. One half ended up in Frankfurt’s Senckenberg Museum. For decades, it was thought to belong to Homoeosaurus maximiliani, a lizard-like reptile.

Recently, Victor Beccari, a doctoral student at the Bavarian State Collection, discovered a matching fossil at the Natural History Museum in London. DNA barcoding and skeletal analysis confirmed it as the missing half.

Researchers now know both fossils belong to a new species—Sphenodraco scandentis. The full reconstruction offers a rare look at the early evolution of tree-dwelling reptiles. “The fossils were separated almost a century ago and the link was lost,” said Beccari.

A Tree-Dwelling Lifestyle Revealed
With the full skeleton now visible, researchers have confirmed Sphenodraco was built for climbing. It had a small body and unusually long limbs, much like today’s agile lizards.

This suggests Sphenodraco was likely the first truly arboreal member of the rhynchocephalian family. It was related to the modern-day tuatara but had a very different lifestyle.

Its fossil was preserved in limestone, giving detailed impressions. Experts believe it climbed trees across the Solnhofen Archipelago nearly 150 million years ago.

Solnhofen’s Limestone Keeps Telling Stories
The Solnhofen deposits, nestled in Bavaria, are a treasure trove of ancient life. Famous for fossils like Archaeopteryx, they continue to offer rare glimpses into prehistoric ecosystems.

Rhynchocephalians were once common in the Triassic and Jurassic periods. Fossils from this region show how diverse and adaptable they were. Sphenodraco scandentis now joins their ranks as a unique tree-dweller among ground-living relatives.

With each discovery, scientists get closer to piecing together life from the deep past. And sometimes, it just takes a sharp eye and a bit of luck to bring history back to life.