5 Key Takeaways

• 1

  A 289-million-year-old fossil of Captorhinus aguti reveals the oldest known amniote breathing apparatus.

• 2

  The fossil preserves an articulated ribcage, shoulder girdle, and soft tissues, providing insights into vertebrate evolution.

• 3

  Research indicates that Captorhinus likely utilized costal aspiration breathing, similar to modern reptiles.

• 4

  The discovery of ancient protein remnants pushes the boundaries of soft tissue preservation in the fossil record.

• 5

  The findings suggest Captorhinus represents the ancestral condition for rib-assisted respiration in amniotes.