Ancient Footprints Reveal Vertebrate Evolution

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earliest vertebrates

NBC News

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Science

Ancient reptile footprints upend theories about when animals evolved to live on land

Summary

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89% Informative

Fossil footprints from Australia show reptile-like feet with long toes and hooked claws.

Scientists estimate the animal was about 2 1/2 feet ( 80 centimeters ) long and may have resembled a modern monitor lizard.

Discovery suggests that after the first animals emerged from the ocean around 400 million years ago, they evolved the ability to live exclusively on land much faster than previously assumed.

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Informative language

Neutral language

Article tone

semi-formal

Language

English

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not offensive

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not hateful