A fossil hotspot in southern England has revealed another of its secrets. The former quarry located in Cromhall, South Gloucestershire, is renowned as a rich source of Triassic wildlife. Gliding reptiles, dinosaur relatives and even one of the earliest known lizards have all been found at the site over the past few decades.

A new species, named Threordatoth chasmatos, has now been added to the list. Dr. Luke Meade, the lead author of research describing its fossils, says the reptile would probably have looked similar to horned lizards alive today.

"Based on its relatives, Threordatoth would have been a small reptile with bony spikes on its head and potentially some bony armor on its body," Meade says. "I like to imagine them scampering around the sinkholes and fissures of southwest England in the Late Triassic, looking for plants and bugs to eat while avoiding the early relatives of dinosaurs."

While only incomplete parts of its jaw have been discovered to date, the fossils of Threordatoth are important for understanding a little-known group of reptiles known as the procolophonids. Dr. Marc Jones, our Curator of Fossil Reptiles, says that every new fossil brings scientists closer to understanding these prehistoric animals.