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Animals that lived before the dinosaurs looked like fat lizards with very small heads and had a semi-aquatic lifestyle like that of a hippopotamus, according to fossils recently unearthed in France. The amphibians, which represent a previously unknown genus and species of mammal ancestor, measure about 12 feet (4 meters) in length, the researchers report in the October issue of the journal. Palaeo Vertebrates , published online in July. They dub a new species Lalieudorhynchus gandi ; it lived about 265 million years ago in Pangea supercontinent, just before the era of the dinosaurs. The unusual animal fossil was first discovered in 2001 in the Lodève Basin in southern France, by study co-author and paleontologist Jörg Schneider, a professor in the Department of Paleontology and Stratigraphy at the University of Freiberg in Germany, and doctoral candidate Frank Körner. They found two large ribs, each measuring 24 inches (60 centimeters) long, in a rocky riverbed. During subsequent...

We’re not kidding, the goats have been called in to help the little lizard that lives in the city park. The first goats have been sent to Melbourne’s Royal Park to munch on the weeds that threaten the habitat* of the White lizard. Lizards have lived in this part of the park for more than 20 years, and are the only surviving population in downtown Melbourne. They prefer rocky habitats and shady vegetation, and open areas to soak in the sun. They make burrows to escape predators*, hibernate* and reproduce. But weeds have ravaged their Royal Park habitat, with exotic grass covering their *sun beds*. The goats will be gradually introduced into the park’s seven fenced plots in the coming weeks. The City of Melbourne is conducting trials with the University of Melbourne as part of a plan to improve ecosystem health* and biodiversity*. Acting Mayor Nicholas Reece said the council was eager to see if the goats could “work their grazing magic” and improve the liza...