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Twisted-Jaw Fossil: Ancient 'Living Fossil' Found in Brazil
Paleontologists uncover a previously unknown species of early tetrapod with a uniquely twisted jaw and sideways-facing teeth.
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
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Paleontologists in Brazil have identified a previously unknown species of early tetrapod, a four-limbed vertebrate, distinguished by a uniquely twisted jaw and sideways-facing teeth. The discovery, detailed in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, suggests the creature, named Tanyka amnicola, was a surviving member of an ancient lineage thought to have largely disappeared by the Permian period, approximately 275 million years ago.
Why it matters
The discovery of Tanyka amnicola positions it as a 'living fossil' in its time, akin to the modern-day platypus, which represents a surviving branch of ancient mammals. The findings offer insights into the ecological dynamics of the Gondwana supercontinent during the Permian period.
The details
The findings are based on nine fossilized lower jawbones unearthed from a dry riverbed in northeastern Brazil. Each jawbone measures roughly six inches in length and exhibits a pronounced curvature. Researchers initially suspected a deformity, but the consistent presence of the twist across all specimens confirmed it as a defining characteristic of the species. Tanyka amnicola's jaw structure is not the only unusual feature, as the inner surface of the lower jaw is rotated upward and covered in a series of small, tooth-like structures called denticles, suggesting a unique feeding mechanism.
- The discovery was detailed on March 4, 2026 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
- The fossil specimens were unearthed from a dry riverbed in northeastern Brazil.
The players
Jason Pardo
A research associate at the Field Museum in Chicago and lead author of the study.
Ken Angielczyk
A curator of paleomammalogy at the Field Museum and a co-author of the study.
What they’re saying
“The jaw has this weird twist that drove us crazy trying to figure it out. We were scratching our heads over this for years, wondering if it was some kind of deformation. But at this point, we've got nine jaws from this animal, and they all have this twist, including the really, really well-preserved ones. So it's not a deformation, it's just the way the animal was made.”
— Jason Pardo, Research associate at the Field Museum (world-today-news.com)
“Tanyka is telling us about how this community actually worked, how it was structured, and who was eating what.”
— Ken Angielczyk, Curator of paleomammalogy at the Field Museum (world-today-news.com)
The takeaway
The discovery of Tanyka amnicola, a previously unknown species of early tetrapod with a uniquely twisted jaw, provides insights into the survival of ancient lineages and the ecological dynamics of the Gondwana supercontinent during the Permian period, offering a glimpse into the distant past.
