Archaeothyris
Period of life:
306 mya
Period:
Habitat:
Lakes and marshes
Taxonomy:
Synapsids
Height:
0.08 m
Countries:
What the name means: "Ancient window" (from the Greek *archaīos* meaning "ancient" and *thyris* meaning "window"). The name was given because it is the oldest known animal with a single opening behind the eye socket, a temporal fenestra.
Archaeothyris, a small animal about half a meter in length, existed in what is now North America 306 million years ago during the Carboniferous period. It resembled a lizard in appearance but played a crucial role in evolutionary history as one of the earliest and most primitive synapsids—a group that eventually gave rise to mammals, including us.
The name "Archaeothyris" highlights a key feature of its anatomy—the presence of a temporal opening in the skull, which allowed the attachment of jaw muscles. Its diet likely consisted of insects and small reptiles. Sharp teeth and a pair of enlarged canines indicate a carnivorous lifestyle. Archaeothyris had legs positioned on the sides of its body, similar to modern lizards.
Fossils of Archaeothyris have been found in the Joggin cliffs of Nova Scotia, the same location where remains of early reptiles such as *Hylonomus* and *Petrolacosaurus* were discovered. During that time, this region was a swampy forest with giant clubmosses reaching heights of up to 50 meters. Alongside other early amniotes (animals whose embryos develop within a protective membrane), Archaeothyris inhabited the moist, swampy underbrush.
The study of Archaeothyris and other early synapsids helps us better understand the evolutionary path that led to the emergence of mammals and, ultimately, humans.
Other animals
INTERESTING FACTS
PUZZLES
HOME
3D MODEL "SKIN"
3D MODEL "MUSCLES"
3D MODEL "SKELETON"
VISION
NEIGHBORS
VOICE ACTING
AR - MODE
GALLERY
HISTORY OF DISCOVERIES
