Tayah Simpson

2nd Period Lab Bio

4/5/17

Greatest Show on Earth:

Reptiles to Dinosaurs
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In Big Spring, Texas on September 22, there was a new discovery by Ph.D. student

Michelle Stocker and assistant professor Sterling Nesbitt of a long extinct reptile that may be the

earliest ancestor of dinosaurs we have today. This specimen, found in plain sight where it had

been for the last 70 years, was a reptile no bigger than an alligator, with a dome shaped head and

very thick skull, and a large indent on the top of his head giving the impression of a third eye,

which gave its name ​Triopticus Primus;​ which translates to “the first with three eyes”. The

finding of this fossil is important because it shows the convergence between prehistoric reptiles

and dinosaurs.

Finding a fossil of a newly introduced prehistoric reptile species and reconstructing the

specimen made visible connections to dinosaurs. First, the thicker skull examined in the

Triopticus Primus ​was very similar to the skulls of the ​pachycephalosaur dinosaurs. Secondly,

the body shapes of this early reptile are also very similar to dinosaurs. As said by Ph.D. student

Michelle Stocker said, “What we thought were unique body shapes in many dinosaurs actually

evolved millions of years before in the Triassic Period” (Stocker, 4). The ​Triopticus a​ nd other

reptiles buried along with it have like structures as dinosaurs as well. The assistant professor at

Virginia Tech, Sterling Nesbitt said, “After the enormous mass extinction 250 million years ago,

reptiles exploded onto the scene and almost immediately diversified into many different sizes

and shapes. These early body shapes were later mimicked by dinosaurs” (Nesbitt, 8). Having

similar body shapes and structures suggests that they are closely related species, and were both

derived from a common ancestor. The evolution of reptiles to dinosaurs was a process of

prehistoric reptiles undergoing certain difficulties which would develop traits found in dinosaurs.
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Evolution is a process all species have and continue to go through. Evolution allows new

traits and adaptations to be developed within a species that help its’ chances of survival.

Connections that can be made between the ​Triopticus ​and dinosaurs, like the similar skulls and

body structures, lead one to hypothesize that dinosaurs are later, more evolved, and bigger

descendants of prehistoric reptiles. As said by Michelle Stocker, ​“​Triopticus ​is an extraordinary

example of evolutionary convergence between the relatives of dinosaurs and crocodylians and

later dinosaurs that is much more common than anyone ever expected” (Stocker, 4). Apparently

the similarities between these two was a surprise to many, but the facts are there nonetheless.

With the theory of what professor Nesbitt said, “After the enormous mass extinction 250 million

years ago, reptiles exploded onto the scene and almost immediately diversified into many

different sizes and shapes. These early body shapes were later mimicked by dinosaurs” (Nesbitt,

8), it shouldn’t have been such a surprise to see that these reptiles later evolved to dinosaurs.

There’s a clear path of facts and hypotheses of seeing just how those prehistoric reptiles may

have evolved into dinosaurs.

The evidence of the ​Triopticus ​examination provided helped prove and explain the

convergence of reptiles to dinosaurs. The factors of natural selection came into play with this

evolution; only the stronger, bigger, faster, and fittest of the species survive. The ones that

survive undergo the evolution of acquiring traits of dinosaurs through generations of adapting

and developing to becoming more physically advanced. There is no denying the relationship
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between these two creatures; the body structures, shapes, and bone structures are too similar.

With the likeness of these reptiles, scientists know they came from one common ancestor.

In conclusion, the analysis of the ​Triopticus Primus ​took place at ​Jackson School’s Texas

Vertebrate Paleontology Collections, but the fossil was originally found in Big Spring, Texas and

the study of the fossil occurred September 22. The finders of the fossil were assistant professor

Sterling Nesbitt and Ph.D. student Michelle Stocker, who were at Jackson school when they

found it in plain sight. Potentially finding more of this fossil could help pave the way of finding a

common ancestor of reptiles.

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Works Cited
1. Caputo, Anton N/A. “New Species of Ancient Texas Reptiles Offers Clues to Evolution

of Dinosaurs.” ​New Species of Ancient Texas Reptile. ​Jackson School of Geosciences. 22

Sept. 2016. Web. 05 April 2017.

<​https://news.utexas.edu/2016/09/22/ancient-texas-reptile-offers-clues-to-evolution-of-di

nosaur​>

2. Viegas, Jen. “Prehistoric Reptile...Like a Dinosaur.” ​Seeker.​ Seeker, 22 Sept. 2016. Web.

O5 April 2017.

<​https://www.seeker.com/wanna-be-dino-prehistoric-reptile-looked-like-a-dinosaur-2012

556832.html​>

3. Focus, Science N/A. “Could a Dinosaur Survive in Today’s Climate Condition?” ​Science

​ cience Focus, Jan.-Feb. N/A. Web. 05 April 2017.

Focus. S

<http://www.sciencefocus.com/qa/could-dinosaur-survive-today%E2%80%99s-climate-c

onditions>