An extraordinary discovery has gained worldwide attention: Megachirella wachtleri, discovered in 1999 by South Tyrolean researcher Michael Wachtler on the Kühwiesenkopf in the Pragser Valley, is now considered the oldest known lizard in the world.
This small reptile lived around 240–245 million years ago during the Middle Triassic period in what are now the Dolomites. Through international research and a study published in the scientific journal Nature, it was confirmed: Megachirella is the earliest known ancestor of all squamates– the group that includes modern lizards and snakes.
Although the fossil itself is quite small, its significance in evolutionary history is enormous. It marks a major milestone in paleontology and highlights the immense scientific value of the Dolomite region.
A replica of this sensational fossil can be admired in front of the tourist office in Mitterolang, while the original is part of the permanent exhibition at the South Tyrol Museum of Natural History in Bolzano.
A fascinating piece of Earth's history – straight from South Tyrol.
