A newly discovered lizard species, named Bolg amondol, has been found in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Southern Utah, United States. This discovery sheds light on the complex evolutionary history of giant Gila monster relatives that roamed Utah's prehistoric tropical forests.
The research, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, reveals a surprising diversity of large lizards during the age of dinosaurs. The species name, inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," also provides insights into the movement of life between ancient continents.
The discovery of Bolg amondol highlights the importance of museum collections and the vast potential of paleontological heritage preserved in public lands. This find suggests that more large-bodied lizards existed during the Late Cretaceous Period than previously thought.
Bolg amondol, an ancestor of modern Gila monsters, co-existed with other large lizard species in a stable and productive ecosystem. The lizard would have been around three feet long, similar in size to a Savannah monitor lizard.
The rocks where Bolg was discovered, the Kaiparowits Formation, have become a paleontological hotspot. The exceptional record of big lizards from Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument may prove to be a normal part of dinosaur-dominated ecosystems from North America.