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In Lebanon, have found the fossilized remains of an ancient snake, which has kept his feet. With the new imaging technology, scientists were able to discern hidden in the rock of course, not destroying the sample, and to clarify some of the evolution of snakes. Article researchers published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, and the short of it wrote portal LiveScience. Snakes lost their limbs during evolution – originally there were four. To date, scientists are unable to reach a definite conclusion, by whom was the ancestor of snakes, lost a leg. Two main versions – or the creature lived in the water, or was the land lizard. Authors of new works explore the remains of snakes Eupodophis descouensi age 95 million years. The bones of 50-cm reptile partially hidden rock, but on the surface is well seen one rear limb. Because the fossil was found along with the total number known to scientists preserved remains of snakes with hind limbs, is only three, to destroy the sample in order to see the second half of the pelvis, the experts did not steel. The scientists used imaging technology using synchrotron X-ray emission (Synchrotron-radiation Computed Laminography – SRCL). This method gives three-dimensional images at a very high resolution. With the help of SRCL authors found that within a breed is the second limb bent at the knee. It lacks some of the bones of the foot and big toe – a "shortage" is characteristic of modern terrestrial lizards. The researchers note that their work does not put an end to the question of an ancestor of snakes, but clarifies some aspects of these creatures loss of limbs. Based on these data, scientists concluded that the nature of the growth of limbs did not change – they just grow more slowly or for a shorter period of time than the lizards. Recently, another team of researchers has clarified another issue of biology of snakes. Scientists, using time-lapse video, determine exactly how flying snakes can be overcome through the air great distances.
