News Paleontology

Mummified reptile hints at the origins of how we breathe

Ancient specimens have preserved rib cage and cartilage for pumping air to lungs

An artist's drawing of a mummified lizardlike reptile that died in a cave 289 million years ago, with its rib cage exposed to highlight new insight into how it breathed.

About 289 million years ago, a lizardlike Captorhinus died in a cave, as shown in this artist's rendition. Oil and mineralized groundwater seeping into the body helped mummify it, preserving soft tissues like skin, cartilage and protein remnants.

Michael DeBraga

By Carolyn Gramling

The mummified remains of of a land-dwelling vertebrate are helping to reveal how early ancient reptiles began to take a breath with their whole chests — the breathing style used by modern reptiles, birds and mammals.