In a significant paleontological discovery, the first pelycosaur fossils in South America were uncovered in the interior region of Piauí by a research team led by Professor Juan Carlos Cisneros from the Federal University of Piauí (UFPI). The findings were announced on Thursday, highlighting two specific fossils: a maxillary bone found in Nazária and a vertebra discovered in Palmeirais, which date back to about 280 million years ago, during the Permian period of the Paleozoic era.

Pelycosaurs are critical to understanding ancient ecosystems, as they were among the first large-bodied vertebrates, both herbivorous and carnivorous, to inhabit terrestrial environments. Professor Cisneros emphasized the importance of these creatures in shaping modern ecosystems. This discovery not only sheds light on the evolutionary history of vertebrates in South America but also underscores the region's paleontological importance and the potential for further significant findings in the future.

The study was published in the Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology, affirming that paleontological research in Brazil is gaining momentum. This discovery marks a pivotal moment for Brazil's geological and historical narrative, as it expands the known distribution of pelycosaurs and provides evidence of their presence on the continent long before dinosaurs became the dominant terrestrial vertebrates.