An83-million-year-old reptile fossil unearthed in southern France has been officially recognized as a new species and named Acutodon villeveyracensis in honor of the village where it was found. The specimen, discovered in 1997 in Villeveyrac, is the only known Upper Cretaceous crocodile-lizard fossil ever identified in Europe.
The naming of a new species is a rare event in paleontology, particularly when it involves a fossil that fills a gap in the scientific record. In this case, the distinction carries both scientific and local significance, linking a small community in the Hérault department to a remarkable prehistoric discovery.
The fossil remained under study for many years before receiving a formal description. Researchers now consider it an important piece of evidence for understanding a little-known group of reptiles whose evolutionary history is still only partially documented.
A Fossil Discovery Nearly Three Decades In The Making
The specimen was discovered in 1997 by paleontologist Xavier Valentin during excavations at a former bauxite mine near Villeveyrac. It consists of a fragment of an upper jaw bearing five or six remarkably sharp teeth. As reported by Le Parisien, Valentin explained that the name Acutodon villeveyracensis translates as “Sharp Tooth of Villeveyrac.” He added that:
“The fossil is a fragment of an upper jaw containing five to six extremely sharp teeth, similar in appearance to snake teeth.”
While he made the original discovery, the scientific analysis was conducted by paleontologist Olivier Jansen. The results of that work were published in mid-May, 2026 in theJournal of Vertebrate Paleontology, formally establishing the fossil as a previously unknown species. The decision to name the animal after Villeveyrac was intended as a tribute to the commune, which has supported research efforts at the site for many years.
A Rare Member of a Little-Known Reptile Group
The study identified the fossil as belonging to a crocodile-lizard, a reptile that lived in the humid tropical forests that covered southern France during the Late Cretaceous period. The authors noted that the evolutionary history of this group remains poorly understood because fossil evidence is extremely limited. Only five fossil species and a small number of specimens have been described to date.
“Acutodon villeveyracensis is attributed to a pan-shinisaur anguimorph based on a toothed maxilla sharing multiple characters with the living Chinese crocodile lizard and its fossil relatives,” said the authors.
Previous finds came from Early Cretaceous deposits in China and from younger Cenozoic deposits in Europe and North America. The scientific paper points to a substantial gap in the fossil record, making discoveries such as the Villeveyrac specimen particularly valuable.
Researchers determined that the jaw fragment belonged to an animal living around 83 million years ago, offering evidence from a period that had previously yielded no comparable European specimen from this lineage.
A Find Celebrating Science and Local Support
The newly described fragment stands out for another reason. The research team writes that it represents the oldest known European specimen of pan-shinisaur lizards, the broader group that includes crocodile-lizards.
The study stated that the fossil predates the previously known appearance of this lineage in Europe by approximately 30 million years. Scientists added that the discovery raises questions about the paleobiogeographic history of these reptiles and their presence on the continent.
“While this species is currently on the brink of extinction, the evolutionary history of this group remains poorly understood, and the species could disappear before we untangle the mysteries of its origins.”
The species was named in recognition of the strong partnership between researchers and the local community. Mayor Christophe Morgo welcomed the decision, and a cast of the Acutodon villeveyracensis jaw fragment is expected to be added to the town’s fossil exhibition.
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