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Brazilian Doctor’s Lifelong Passion Uncovers 237‑Million‑Year‑Old Reptile

Doctor Pedro Lucas Porcela Aurelio discovered a fossil in Paraíso do Sul in 2014 that researchers later identified as a four‑legged reptile roughly the size of a small dog and dated to about 237 million years ago. The species, Gondwanax paraisensis, comes from Triassic rocks and sheds light on the early evolution of reptiles. Aurelio, a 66‑year‑old nephrologist who began fieldwork in 1996, donated the specimen to a local university and remains devoted to fossil hunting.

01:05 AM, 11/28/2025Science

In 2014, physician Pedro Lucas Porcela Aurelio uncovered a fossil near his hometown of Paraíso do Sul in Brazil’s southern Rio Grande do Sul state. What began as a routine field outing evolved into a discovery that has helped scientists better understand the early rise of reptiles.

Researchers identified the specimen as a four‑legged ancient reptile roughly the size of a small dog, with a long tail. The fossil has been estimated at about 237 million years old, placing it in the Triassic period and making it one of the oldest known fossils of its kind. The species was formally named Gondwanax paraisensis.

“I adopted it as part of my life,” Aurelio, a 66‑year‑old nephrologist from Paraíso do Sul, said of his passion for paleontology.

Aurelio, who began joining field trips in 1996, donated the specimen to a nearby university, enabling further study. Paleontologist Rodrigo Temp Muller described the new research in a paper published last year. The fossil was recovered from Triassic‑age rock layers — a pivotal interval when early dinosaurs and the ancestors of mammals, crocodiles, turtles and frogs first emerged.

“How can I touch millions of years? When I held it, I would sweat from emotion,” Aurelio recalled.

Muller praised Aurelio’s long record of discoveries and his efforts to protect and promote the paleontological heritage of the region. Many items in local collections, he noted, were found thanks to Aurelio’s dedication and careful fieldwork, which has inspired both professional scientists and students.

Despite his medical career, Aurelio remains committed to fossil hunting. He visits field sites whenever he can and says he will continue so long as he has the strength.

“Here I can rub my hands in Triassic sediments. And honestly, I prefer that to washing blood off my hands,” he said. “I'll continue field trips until the day I'm gone.”

By Diego Vara; reporting contributed by Sergio Queiroz.

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Brazilian Doctor’s Lifelong Passion Uncovers 237‑Million‑Year‑Old Reptile - CRBC News