Researchers have identified the oldest known impression. reptiles The skins recorded so far are preserved in rocks in central Germany and date back almost 300 million years to the early Permian period. The discovery provides the earliest direct evidence of the skin structure of the ancestors of modern reptiles and provides valuable insight into how early land animals adapted to life outside the water.
The fossil was discovered in the Thuringian Forest and studied by an international research team led by Lorenzo Marchetti from the Berlin Museum of Nature. The study was published in the scientific journal Current Biology.
Fossils preserved as detailed surface traces
Unlike the rare cases in which soft tissue survives as organic material, the German finds were preserved as surface impressions of fine-grained deposits. Nevertheless, the level of detail is unusually high. The impressions reveal rows of distinct, organized scale patterns, indicating that the main features of reptilian skin were already established by the Early Permian.
of fossil Its origins date from about 298 to 299 million years ago, when reptiles were beginning to spread across increasingly arid landscapes. Tough, scaly skin played an important role in reducing water loss and supporting life on land.
Unusual traces can be obtained from the gold rotor layer
This skin impression was discovered within the Goldrotor Formation, a geological unit known for preserving delicate surface features. The material is taken from two locations: the Kabarc quarry near Tabarc and the Flo Seligenthal area.
At both sites, skin marks were found alongside fossil resting marks and footprints left by early reptiles. This close association directly links the preserved skin to the animal that made the footprints and strengthens the interpretation of anatomy and behavior.
The researchers were able to determine the age of the fossil with high accuracy. volcanic ash The layers embedded in the rock were dated using modern radiometric methods, confirming that this is the oldest known direct example of reptilian skin.
Still traces reveal early reptile anatomy
The newly identified stationary trace was officially named Cabarzichnus pulchrus. These capture the outlines of early reptiles resting on soft ground, preserving details of physical contact rarely seen in the fossil record.
Researchers have identified the oldest known reptile skin impression preserved in a rock in Germany’s Thuringian Forest. The fossil, dated to the early Permian period, reveals detailed scale patterns and may also preserve a rare cloacal opening. pic.twitter.com/DmTaOmWndB
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) February 24, 2026
The footprints associated with the tracks show proportions similar to borosaurids, an early reptile group belonging to the stem lineage that later gave rise to modern lizards. This path suggests that small land-dwelling animals are already well adapted to life on land.
The preserved scale patterns vary in shape. Some are diamond-shaped, while others are hexagonal or have pointed sides. The researchers say these morphologies closely resemble skin structures found in later land-dwelling vertebrates, indicating that complex reptilian skin evolved earlier than previously known.
Possible cloacal impression indicates an exceptional finding
Certain skin impressions stand out as particularly special. Researchers identified narrow slit-like marks near the base of the tail that could indicate the opening of the cloaca.
Most terrestrial vertebrates have a single opening, the cloaca, used for both reproduction and excretion. Only placental mammals have evolved separate orifices. Because the cloaca is soft tissue, it is poorly preserved in the fossil record.
If confirmed, this feature would be one of the clearest examples of a cloaca preserved as an external skin impression. Its shape and orientation are different from those seen in dinosaurs and crocodiles, and more similar to those seen in turtles, lizards, and snakes today.
“Soft-tissue structures like this are extremely rare in the fossil record,” Marchetti said. “The further back in Earth’s history you go, the more exceptional they become.”
Trace fossils reveal evolutionary insights
The research was carried out as part of the BROMACKER project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space. of findings Emphasizes the importance of trace fossils in evolutionary research.
Unlike skeletal remains, which often preserve only fragments of anatomy, trace fossils can record details of posture, movement, and skin that would otherwise be lost. Researchers say the combination of footprints, static tracks and skin marks provides a rare and detailed picture of early reptile life.
These discoveries fill a major gap in our understanding of how reptiles developed some of their defining traits during a critical period in the history of life on land.