Early amniote with skin preservation
The “climbing dwarf” from the Chemnitz Petrified Forest: Ascendonanus is a primitive reptile-like creature, perhaps a varanopid, from the Lower Permian. The bone preservation is poor, but the skin of this specimen nicknamed “Helge” is excellently displayed. These details are due to the special preservation in hot volcanic ash, which literally burned the poor animal into its cemented grave. There were certainly also larger animals in this lush forest, but their flight instinct got them out of the danger zone in time, at least outside the later excavation area. Ascendonanus, in contrast, was the victim of its own adaptations: It is the oldest vertebrate known so far with extensive adaptations to a life in the treetops. As such, it probably preferred to flee upwards, towards the boiling hot ash rain. Five such animals were found in just a few square meters.
stippling ink on tracing paper
Museum für Naturkunde Chemnitz
