The first fossil of an animal that walked on land has been found.

The first fossils of vertebrates that walked on land, dating back approximately 355 million years, have been found in Scotland.

This image depicts the first animals to walk on land in Scotland. Photo: Mark Witton.

Scientists at the University of Cambridge, England, have discovered fossils of animals believed to be the first four-legged vertebrates to walk on land in Scotland. These animals, considered ancestors of modern birds, mammals, and reptiles, lived approximately 355 million years ago. The research findings were published in the journal Nature.

According to Red Orbit, the research team found a total of five completely intact fossils, with many unclassified bone fragments. Some fossils resemble lizards or salamanders, while others are larger, comparable in size to crocodiles.

"We have uncovered a crucial part of the evolutionary story of life on land," BBC quoted Jennifer Clack, a member of the research team, as saying.

Nick Fraser, an expert at the Museum of Scotland, said that the first vertebrates moved from aquatic to terrestrial environments in what is now Scotland. In addition, many similar fossils may exist elsewhere in the world but remain undiscovered.

Around 360 million years ago, many life forms were wiped out after a global mass extinction event. The following 15 million years were a crucial period for the development of quadrilateral vertebrates, but scientists previously lacked fossil data. Therefore, we know very little about how animals like fish developed extra limbs to walk on land.

"Just as Neil Armstrong's landing on the Moon was a giant leap forward for mankind, the first steps on land by vertebrates were a major step forward for the future evolution of land-dwelling animals," Fraser said.

According to VNE