In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists in Australia have unearthed the oldest fossil footprints of a reptile-like creature, dating back around 350 million years. This astonishing find challenges previous beliefs about the timeline of animal evolution on land.

Previously, experts thought the transition from aquatic life to living exclusively on land took much longer. California State University paleontologist Stuart Sumida noted that this new evidence indicates a much quicker evolution than we had assumed.

The former record for the oldest reptile footprints, located in Canada, was set at 318 million years ago. However, these newly found footprints, discovered on a sandstone slab near Melbourne, showcase reptile-like feet, complete with long toes and distinctive hooked claws.

Scientists estimate that the ancient creature was about 2.5 feet (80 centimeters) long, potentially resembling a modern-day monitor lizard. This unprecedented finding was published in the prestigious journal Nature.

Co-author and paleontologist Per Ahlberg from Uppsala University highlighted that the presence of hooked claws is a significant indicator of the creature's capabilities. "It’s a walking animal," he emphasized. Only animals that evolved to leave their aquatic habitats developed claws to aid terrestrial movement.

Unlike their fish and amphibian counterparts, which remain tied to moist environments for reproduction, the evolutionary lineage leading to reptiles, birds, and mammals – known as amniotes – innovated feet equipped for life on dry land.

"This is the earliest evidence we've ever seen of an animal with claws," said Sumida, underlining the significance of the find.

During the time this ancient reptile roamed, Australia was a warm and humid land, blanketed with expansive forests as part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana.

The fossilized footprints reveal a fascinating narrative of the creature's day: A single reptile hurried across the ground shortly before a light rain, which left raindrop impressions that partially masked its tracks. Soon after, two more reptiles scurried by in the opposite direction before the soil dried and was covered by sediment.

John Long, another co-author and paleontologist at Flinders University in Australia, remarked on the captivating nature of fossil trackways: "They beautifully illustrate how creatures lived, not just what they looked like." This revelation is not just a triumph of paleontology, but a pivotal moment that rewrites the story of life on land.