A  237-million-year-old fossil of Gondwanax paraisensis, a small reptile from southern Brazil, sheds light on dinosaur origins.  Discovered in 2014 and donated to a university in 2021, the fossil is from a silesaurid, a debated precursor to dinosaurs.  Measuring 1 meter long and weighing 3 to 6 kg, the reptile lived during the Triassic period, offering valuable insights into early reptile evolution. Key Highlights: - A 237 million-year-old fossil of a small reptile called Gondwanax paraisensis was discovered in southern Brazil. - The reptile belonged to a group of extinct reptiles called silesaurids, and scientists are debating whether they were true dinosaurs or a species that came before them. - The discovery of this new species could help in understanding the traits that made dinosaurs successful. - The fossil was originally found in 2014 by Pedro Lucas Porcela Aurelio and was donated to a university in 2021, leading to three years of research. - The fossil's age is si...