The oldest known relative of lizards has been uncovered in the UK.

A new species of ancient reptile, known as Agriodontosaurus helsbypetrae, reveals that the evolution of these animals was quite different than scientists had imagined.

An extinct species has revealed new twists in the tale of lizards and their relatives.

Discovered near the town of Sidmouth in Devon, Agriodontosaurus helsbypetrae was an insect-eating reptile that lived more than 241 million years ago during the Middle Triassic. It’s part of a reptile group known as the lepidosaurs, which contains snakes, lizards and an animal known as the tuatara.