New ancient reptile crawls out of the past in Scotland

This is what Breugnathair elgolensis might have looked like

Researchers have discovered a brand new species of Jurassic reptile they believe roamed Scotland 167 million years ago.

The fossil was found near the village of Elgol on the Isle of Skye, by an international team of researchers back in 2016.

After lots of detailed scans, they've discovered that the species is an ancient relative of modern lizards and snakes.

The reptile has been called Breugnathair elgolensis, which means the "false snake of Elgol" in Gaelic.

The fossil was discovered by National Museums Scotland curator, Dr Stig Walsh

Breugnathair elgolensis would have had snake-like jaws, with backward-curving teeth like a python's. However the rest of its body looked much more similar to a lizard.

Professor Susan Evans, who co-led the study, says the discovery is of "world importance".

That's because it helps researchers understand how early evolution looked for lots of living groups, including lizards.

The fossil is one of the oldest and most complete Jurassic lizards known to science.