Ular Dulunya Berkaki

Fosil Eupodophis descouensi yang memperlihatkan struktur kaki.

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KOMPAS.com — Ular ternyata dulu berkaki. Hal itu diketahui setelah ilmuwan mempelajari fosil ular berusia 95 juta tahun yang ditemukan tahun 2000 di Desa Al-Nammoura, Lebanon.

Berbeda dengan tulang kaki depan yang terlihat jelas, para peneliti harus menggunakan sinar X dan pencitraan resolusi tinggi tiga dimensi (3D) untuk bisa melihat tulang kaki belakang yang tersembunyi dalam fosil batuan.

Menurut Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology yang dikutip BBC, Selasa (8/2/2011), pertumbuhan kaki ular Eupodophis descouensi kian lambat hingga akhirnya hilang.

Para peneliti Museum Nasional d’Histoire Naturelle, Perancis, hanya menemukan tulang bagian pergelangan kaki. "Bisa jadi pergelangan kaki atau bagian kaki lain patah atau hilang seiring perjalanan waktu," kata Alexandra Houssaye dari museum itu.

Dari bukti-bukti yang ada, ular mulai kehilangan kakinya sekitar 150 juta tahun lalu. (BBC/LUK)

Formerly Legged Snake

Fossils Eupodophis descouensi showing the structure of the foot.

KOMPAS.com - Snakes were first-legged. It was known after the scientists studying the fossils of 95 million-year-old snake that was found in 2000 in the village of Al-Nammoura, Lebanon.

Unlike the front leg bones are clearly visible, the researchers had to use X-rays and high resolution imaging of three-dimensional (3D) to be able to see the back of the leg bones are hidden in the fossil rock.

According to the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology is quoted by the BBC, Tuesday (08/02/2011), the growth of the foot snake Eupodophis descouensi increasingly slow and eventually disappear.

Researchers d'Histoire Naturelle National Museum, France, only to find the ankle bone. "It could be an ankle or the other leg was broken or lost over time," said Alexandra Houssaye from the museum.

From the evidence available, the snake began to lose his leg about 150 million years ago. (BBC / LUK)