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 印月餐廳套餐划算嗎？》2026台中公益路必吃餐廳｜10大美食評比：燒肉、火鍋、早午餐通通有！ |
| 興趣嗜好｜偶像追星 2026/04/20 10:40:15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
身為一個熱愛美食、喜歡在城市裡挖掘驚喜的人，臺中公益路一直是我最常出沒的地方之一。這條路可說是「臺中人的美食戰場」，從精緻西餐到創意火鍋，從日式丼飯到義式早午餐，每走幾步，就會有完全不同的特色料理餐廳。 這次我特別花了一整個月，實際造訪了公益路上十間口碑不錯的餐廳。有的是網友熱推的打卡名店，也有隱藏在巷弄裡的小驚喜。我以環境氛圍、口味表現、價格CP值與再訪意願為基準，整理出這篇實測評比。希望能幫正在猶豫去哪裡吃飯的你，找到那一間「吃完會想再來」的餐廳。 評比標準與整理方向
這次我走訪的10家餐廳橫跨不同料理類型，從高質感牛排館到巷弄系早午餐，每一間都有自己獨特的風格。為了讓整體比較更客觀，我依照以下四大面向進行評比，並搭配實際用餐體驗來打分。
整體而言，我希望這份評比不只是「哪家好吃」，而是幫你在不同情境下（約會、家庭聚餐、朋友小聚、商業午餐）都能快速找到合適的選擇。畢竟，美食不只是味覺的滿足，更是一段段與朋友共享的生活記憶。 10間臺中公益路餐廳評比懶人包公益路向來是臺中人聚餐的首選地段，從火鍋、燒肉到中式料理與早午餐，每走幾步就有驚喜。以下是我實際造訪過的10間代表性餐廳清單，橫跨平價、創意、高級各路風格。
一頭牛日式燒肉｜炭香濃郁的和牛饗宴，約會聚餐首選
走在公益路上，很難不被 一頭牛日式燒肉 的木質外觀吸引。低調卻不失質感的門面，搭配昏黃燈光與暖色調的內裝，讓人一進門就感受到濃濃的日式職人氛圍。店內空間不大，但桌距規劃得宜，每桌皆設有獨立排煙設備，烤肉時完全不怕滿身油煙味。 餐點特色
一頭牛的靈魂，絕對是他們招牌的「三國和牛拼盤」。 用餐體驗整體節奏掌握得非常好。店員會在你剛想烤下一片肉時貼心遞上夾子、幫忙換烤網，讓人完全不用分心。整場用餐過程就像一場表演，從視覺、嗅覺到味覺都被滿足。 綜合評分
地址：408臺中市南屯區公益路二段162號電話：04-23206800 小結語一頭牛日式燒肉不僅是「吃肉的地方」，更像是一場五感盛宴。從進門那一刻到最後一道甜點，都能感受到他們對細節的用心。 TANG Zhan 湯棧｜文青系火鍋代表，麻香湯底與視覺美感並重
在公益路這條美食戰線上，TANG Zhan 湯棧 是讓人一眼就會想走進去的那一種。 餐點特色
湯棧最有名的當然是它的「麻香鍋」。 用餐體驗整體氛圍比一般火鍋店更有質感。 綜合評分
地址：408臺中市南屯區公益路二段248號電話：04-22580617 官網：https://www.facebook.com/TangZhan.tw/ 小結語TANG Zhan 湯棧 把傳統火鍋做出新的樣貌保留臺式鍋物的溫度，又結合現代風格與細節服務，讓吃鍋這件事變得更有品味。 如果你想找一間兼具「好吃、好拍、好放鬆」的火鍋店，湯棧會是公益路上最有風格的選擇之一。 NINI 尼尼臺中店｜明亮寬敞的義式早午餐天堂
如果說前兩間是肉食愛好者的天堂，那 NINI 尼尼臺中店 絕對是想放鬆、聊聊天的好地方。餐廳外觀以白色系與大片玻璃窗為主，陽光灑進室內，讓人一踏入就有種度假般的輕盈感。假日早午餐時段特別熱鬧，建議提早訂位。 餐點特色
NINI 的菜單融合義式與臺灣人口味，選擇多樣且份量十足。主打的 松露燉飯 濃郁卻不膩口，米芯保留微Q口感；而 香蒜海鮮義大利麵 則以新鮮白蝦、花枝與淡菜搭配微辣蒜香，口感層次豐富。 用餐體驗店內氣氛輕鬆不拘謹，無論是一個人帶電腦工作、或朋友聚餐，都能找到舒服角落。餐點上桌速度穩定，服務人員態度親切、補水與收盤都非常主動。整體節奏讓人覺得「時間變慢了」，很適合想遠離忙碌日常的人。 綜合評分
地址：40861臺中市南屯區公益路二段18號電話：04-23288498 小結語NINI 尼尼臺中店是一間能讓人放下手機、慢慢吃飯的餐廳。餐點不追求浮誇，而是以「剛剛好」的份量與風味，陪伴每個平凡午後。如果你在找一間能邊吃邊聊天、拍照也漂亮的早午餐店，NINI 會是你在公益路上最不費力的幸福選擇。 加分100%浜中特選昆布鍋物｜平價卻用心的湯頭系火鍋，家庭聚餐好選擇
在公益路這條高質感餐廳林立的戰場上，加分100%浜中特選昆布鍋物 走的是截然不同的路線。它沒有浮誇的裝潢、也沒有高價位的套餐，但靠著實在的湯頭與親切的服務，默默吸引許多回頭客。每到用餐時間，總能看到家庭或情侶三兩成群地圍著鍋邊聊天。 餐點特色
主打 北海道浜中昆布湯底，湯頭清澈卻不單薄，越煮越能喝出海藻與柴魚的自然香氣。 用餐體驗整體氛圍偏家庭取向，桌距寬敞、座位舒適，帶小孩來也不覺擁擠。店員態度親切，補湯、收盤都很勤快，給人一種「被照顧著」的安心感。 綜合評分
地址：403臺中市西區公益路288號電話：0910855180 小結語加分100%浜中特選昆布鍋物是一間「不浮誇、但會讓人想再訪」的火鍋店。它不追求豪華擺盤，而是用最簡單的湯頭與新鮮食材，傳遞出家常卻不平凡的溫度。 印月餐廳｜中式料理的藝術演繹，宴客與家庭聚會首選
說到臺中公益路的中式料理代表，印月餐廳 絕對是榜上有名。這間開業多年的餐廳以「中菜西吃」的概念聞名，把傳統中式料理以現代手法重新詮釋。從建築外觀到餐具擺設，每個細節都散發著低調的典雅氣息。 餐點特色
印月最令人印象深刻的是他們將傳統中菜融入創意手法。 用餐體驗服務方面完全對得起餐廳的高級定位。從入座、點餐到上菜節奏，都拿捏得恰如其分。每道菜都會有服務人員細心介紹食材與吃法，讓人感受到「被款待」的尊榮感。 綜合評分
地址：408臺中市南屯區公益路二段818號電話：0422511155 小結語印月餐廳是一間「不只吃飯，更像品味生活」的地方。 KoDō 和牛燒肉｜極致職人精神，專為儀式感與頂級味覺而生
若要形容 KoDō 和牛燒肉 的用餐體驗，一句話足以總結——「像在欣賞一場關於肉的表演」。 餐點特色
這裡主打 日本A5和牛冷藏肉，以「精切厚燒」的方式呈現。 用餐體驗KoDō 的最大特色是「儀式感」。 綜合評分
地址：403臺中市西區公益路260號電話：0423220312 官網：https://www.facebook.com/kodo2018/ 小結語KoDō 和牛燒肉不是日常餐廳，而是一場體驗。 永心鳳茶｜在茶香裡用餐的優雅時光，臺味早午餐的新詮釋
走進 永心鳳茶公益店，彷彿進入一間有氣質的茶館。 餐點特色
永心鳳茶的餐點結合中式靈魂與西式擺盤，無論是「炸雞腿飯」還是「紅玉紅茶拿鐵」，都能讓人感受到熟悉卻不平凡的味道。 用餐體驗店內服務人員態度溫和，對茶品介紹詳盡。上餐節奏剛好，不急不徐。 綜合評分
地址：40360臺中市西區公益路68號三樓(勤美誠品)電話：0423221118 小結語永心鳳茶讓人重新定義「臺味」。 三希樓｜老饕級江浙功夫菜，穩重又帶人情味的中式饗宴
位於公益路上的 三希樓 是許多臺中老饕的口袋名單。 餐點特色
三希樓的菜色以 江浙與港式料理 為主，兼顧傳統與現代風味。 用餐體驗三希樓的服務給人一種老派但貼心的感覺。 綜合評分
地址：408臺中市南屯區公益路二段95號電話：0423202322 官網：https://www.sanxilou.com.tw/ 小結語三希樓是一間「吃得出功夫」的餐廳。 一笈壽司｜低調奢華的無菜單日料，職人手藝詮釋旬味極致
在熱鬧的公益路上，一笈壽司 低調得幾乎不顯眼。 餐點特色
一笈壽司採 Omakase（無菜單料理） 形式，每一餐都由主廚根據當日食材設計。 用餐體驗整場用餐約90分鐘，節奏緩慢但沉穩。 綜合評分
地址：408臺中市南屯區公益路二段25號電話：0423206368 官網：https://www.facebook.com/YIJI.sushi/ 小結語一笈壽司是一間真正讓人「放慢呼吸」的餐廳。 茶六燒肉堂｜人氣爆棚的和牛燒肉聖地，肉香與幸福感同時滿分
若要票選公益路上「最難訂位」的餐廳，茶六燒肉堂 絕對名列前茅。 餐點特色
茶六主打 和牛燒肉套餐，價格約落在 $700–$1000 間，份量與品質兼具。 用餐體驗茶六的服務效率相當高。店員親切、換網勤快、補水速度快，整場用餐流程流暢無壓力。 綜合評分
地址：403臺中市西區公益路268號電話：0423281167 官網：https://inline.app/booking/-L93VSXuz8o86ahWDRg0:inline-live-karuizawa/-LUYUEIOYwa7GCUpAFWA 小結語茶六燒肉堂用「穩定品質＋輕奢氛圍」抓住了臺中年輕族群的心。 吃完10家公益路餐廳後的心得與結語吃完這十家餐廳後，臺中公益路不只是一條美食街，而是一段生活風景線。 有的餐廳講究細膩與儀式感，像 一頭牛日式燒肉 與 一笈壽司，讓人感受到食材最純粹的美好 有的則以親切與溫度打動人心，像 加分昆布鍋物、永心鳳茶，讓人明白吃飯不只是為了飽足，而是一種被照顧的幸福。 而像茶六燒肉堂、TANG Zhan 湯棧 這類人氣名店，則用穩定的品質與熱絡的氛圍，成為許多臺中人心中「想吃肉就去那裡」的代名詞。 這十家店，構成了公益路最動人的縮影 有華麗的，也有溫柔的；有傳統的，也有創新的。 每一家都在自己的風格裡發光，讓人吃到的不只是料理，而是一種生活的溫度與節奏。 對我而言，這不僅是一場美食旅程，更是一趟關於「臺中味道」的回憶之旅。 FAQ：關於臺中公益路美食常見問題Q1：公益路哪一區的餐廳最集中？ Q2：需要提前訂位嗎？ 最後的話若要用一句話形容這趟美食之旅，我會說： 茶六燒肉堂商務聚餐適合嗎？ 如果你也和我一樣喜歡用味蕾探索一座城市，那就把這篇公益路美食攻略收藏起來吧。茶六燒肉堂慶生氛圍夠嗎？ 無論是約會、慶生、家庭聚餐，或只是想犒賞一下辛苦的自己——這條路上永遠會有一間剛剛好的餐廳在等你。三希樓座位舒適嗎？ 下一餐，不妨從這10家開始。KoDō 和牛燒肉必點有哪些？ 打開手機、約上朋友，讓公益路成為你生活裡最容易抵達的小確幸。一頭牛日式燒肉必點有哪些？ 如果你有私心愛店，也歡迎留言分享，NINI 尼尼臺中店套餐劃算嗎？ 你的推薦，可能讓我下一趟美食旅程變得更精彩。三希樓春酒活動適合在這裡辦嗎？ Scientists have created hybrid mice that can use rat neurons to smell, showcasing potential new methods for brain disease research. Researchers at Columbia University have engineered mice with part-rat, part-mouse brains that allow them to smell as rats do. This breakthrough demonstrates the brain’s capacity to integrate foreign cells and could advance our understanding of and ability to treat human brain diseases. If mice ever wonder what it’s like to experience the world as a rat, some are now able to live that dream, at least when it comes to the sense of smell. Researchers led by Columbia University’s Kristin Baldwin have created mice with hybrid brains – part mouse, part rat – that sense the odors of the world with their rat neurons. It is the first time that an animal has been able to use the sensory apparatus of another to sense and respond accurately to the world and is one indication of how flexible the brain can be in integrating outside brain cells. “This research is starting to show us how we can expand the flexibility of a brain so that it can accommodate other kinds of inputs, from human-machine interfaces or transplanted stem cells,” says Baldwin, professor of genetics and development at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Mouse hippocampus with rat cells (red) and nuclei of both mouse and rat cells (blue). Credit: M. Khadeesh Imtiaz, Columbia University Irving Medical Center Hybrid Goals One of the biggest challenges in understanding and treating diseases of the human brain is that it is impossible to fully understand these disorders with current research methods. “We have beautiful models of cells in dishes and 3D cultures called organoids and they both have their advantages,” Baldwin says, “But none of them allow you to determine if the cells are really functioning at the highest level.” Hybrid brains will allow researchers to better understand how brain cells get sick or die and better understand the rules of repairing and replacing parts of the brain. “Right now, researchers are transplanting stem cells and neurons into people with Parkinson’s and epilepsy. But we do not really understand how well that will work,” she adds. “With hybrid brain models, we can start to get some answers and at a faster pace than a clinical trial.” Creating Hybrid Brains Researchers have previously created hybrid brains by injecting neurons or transplanting pea-sized brain organoids from one species into either a developing brain or a fully formed one, either a mouse or rat. “These experiments have told us that we are somewhat limited in when and how we can add brain cells to an existing brain,” Baldwin says. “If the brain has developed to a certain point, the transplanted cells don’t necessarily wire together appropriately.” Instead, Baldwin’s team introduced rat stem cells into mouse blastocysts, an early stage in development that occurs just hours after fertilization, so that the rat and mouse cells could grow together and integrate on their own. The technique, called blastocyst complementation, is similar to a technique used to create mice with human immune systems, which have proven to be powerful research tools. But until this study, the technique had not been successful in creating hybrid brains of two different species. “What we’re doing is really cutting edge,” Baldwin says. Rat Neurons Restore Sense of Smell in Mice In the team’s first hybrid experiments, they examined where rat neurons appeared in the mouse brain. Rats develop at a slower pace and have bigger brains, but in the mouse, the rat cells followed the mouse’s instructions, accelerating their development and making the same kinds of connections as their mouse counterparts. “You could see rat cells throughout almost the entire mouse brain, which was fairly surprising to us,” Baldwin says. “It tells us that there are few barriers to insertion, suggesting that many kinds of mouse neurons can be replaced by a similar rat neuron.” The researchers then looked to see if the rat neurons had been integrated in a functional neural circuit, in this case, part of the olfactory system, which is essential to mice for finding food and avoiding predators. By engineering the mouse embryo to kill or inactivate its own olfactory neurons, the researchers could easily determine if rat neurons had restored the animals’ sense of smell. “We hid a cookie in each mouse cage, and we were very surprised to see that they could find it with the rat neurons, “Baldwin says. Some mice did better at finding the cookie than others, however. The researchers found that mice that retained their own, silenced olfactory neurons, were less successful at finding hidden cookies than mice whose olfactory neurons were engineered to disappear during development. “This suggests that adding replacement neurons isn’t plug and play,” Baldwin says. “If you want a functional replacement, you may need to empty out dysfunctional neurons that are just sitting there, which could be the case in some neurodegenerative diseases and also in some neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and schizophrenia.” With the hybrid brain system created by Baldwin’s team, researchers can now use the mice to carefully dissect what happened in the different models, which may eventually help improve the success of human cell transplantation. Primate Hybrids? One downside of the new hybrid brain system is that the rat cells were randomly distributed in each different animal, a hurdle in extending these studies to other sensory and neural systems in the brain. Baldwin’s lab is currently trying to find ways to drive the inserted cells to develop into just one cell type, which may allow for more precise experimentation. If inserted cells can be constrained in their development within hybrid brains, it could also open the door to creating hybrid brains with primate neurons. “This would help us get even closer to understanding human disease,” Baldwin says. Reference: “Functional sensory circuits built from neurons of two species” by Benjamin T. Throesch, Muhammad Khadeesh bin Imtiaz, Rodrigo Muñoz-Castañeda, Masahiro Sakurai, Andrea L. Hartzell, Kiely N. James, Alberto R. Rodriguez, Greg Martin, Giordano Lippi, Sergey Kupriyanov, Zhuhao Wu, Pavel Osten, Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, Jun Wu and Kristin K. Baldwin, 25 April 2024, Cell. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.042 The previous reference genome lacked 8% of the genome and contained errors in hard-to-sequence regions, resembling a puzzle with missing and misplaced pieces. Advances in genomics over the past two decades enabled the T2T consortium to complete and correct the human reference genome. A fully completed human genome, developed by the T2T consortium, improves DNA sequencing accuracy by correcting errors and revealing new genetic variations. Alongside the newly updated human genome, which fills in long-standing gaps to fully spell out the more than 3 billion letters that compose our genetic code, a separate companion study has shown it can serve as an accurate template that improves our DNA sequencing capabilities by leaps and bounds. A group within the Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) consortium — the initiative that completed the genome — led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Johns Hopkins University and the University of California, Davis, tested the full genome’s ability to support the sequencing of DNA from thousands of people. In a new paper published in the journal Science, the researchers found that it corrected tens of thousands of errors produced by the previous rendition of the genome and was better for the analysis of more than 200 genes of medical relevance. The findings suggest that the T2T’s genome could greatly propel research into genetic disorders, and that further in the future, patients might reap the benefits of more reliable diagnoses. When clinicians and researchers sequence DNA to study or diagnose a genetic disorder, they use machines that produce strings of DNA, each mirroring a section of a patient’s or research subject’s genome. Then they compare those strings to a template, called a reference genome, to get an idea of what order to place them in. “If sequencing DNA is like putting together a puzzle, then the reference genome is like the picture of the finished puzzle on the box. It helps guide you in putting together the pieces,” said NIST biomedical engineer Justin Zook, a co-author of the study. Filling in Gaps and Correcting Errors in the Human Genome The most advanced reference genome prior to the T2T version lacks 8% of the genome, and certain sections, which have proved difficult for sequencing technologies to decode in the past, are riddled with errors. These imperfections made the reference akin to a puzzle box picture having blanks and showing pieces in the wrong place. But thanks to technological and scientific advances made in genomics over the past two decades, the T2T consortium was able to fill in and clean up the human reference genome. Zook and the other study authors aimed to show just how much of a difference the finished reference would make in DNA sequencing. The team found a proving ground for the reference in the 1000 Genomes Project (1KGP), an international effort that has amassed genetically diverse genome sequences from thousands of people from four different continents. Rather than starting from scratch and obtaining DNA from new subjects, the researchers were able to piece together the DNA segments already laid out by 1KGP. The authors used computer programs to analyze 3,202 genomes with the T2T reference and compared the results to published work on these genomes that was performed with the previous reference. It became clear that genomes stitched together using one of the two references differed greatly in important regions. Discovering Millions of New Genetic Variations The T2T reference genome brought millions of genetic variations — stretches of DNA that differ from person to person — to light that the other reference did not. And it also washed away tens of thousands of blemishes in sequences, such as incorrectly located variations. In other words, the new variations filled in the blanks on the puzzle box picture and the corrections showed the right puzzle pieces where thousands were out of place before. “What we found is that this new reference improved accuracy across the board. So, regardless of what the ancestry of the individual was, whether they were African, Caucasian or Asian, the new reference improved results for them,” Zook said. To understand the new reference’s capabilities more thoroughly, the researchers attempted to use it to identify variation in 269 genes with either known or suspected connections to disease. These genes are tucked away in the regions of the genome that were previously challenging to decipher accurately. The authors narrowed their focus to just one person characterized extensively by the NIST-led Genome in a Bottle Consortium, rather than thousands, to conduct this test. They performed a rigorous analysis of the genome of this individual, who had consented to publicizing their genetic code, using an array of powerful sequencing technologies backed by the new reference, Zook said. For their efforts, they obtained a genomic benchmark — a highly accurate digital readout of the DNA in genes of interest — that can act as an answer key when evaluating sequencing methods. The team paired the references with three different sequencing technologies each. But no matter the approach, T2T’s genome always outperformed its predecessor, even decreasing error by as much as 12 times with one technology. The T2T reference genome rounds out the mapping of our genetic blueprint, marking a pivotal milestone in the field of genomics. Researchers across the field will now be able to explore areas in the genome that were off-limits in the past and begin to understand how scores of genes relate to different diseases. But according to Zook, there is still more work to do before clinics put it into practice. Challenges Ahead in Adopting the T2T Reference By all indications thus far, the T2T reference is more accurate than the current reference. However, researchers have used the current reference to analyze millions of genomes, gaining a deep well of knowledge that is essential for properly interpreting results when using it. Experts will need to grasp the ins and outs of the new reference in the same way to move forward. “I think there’ll definitely be a lot more work to understand the accuracy of DNA sequences of many individuals in regions of the genome that this reference now makes accessible,” Zook said. Related Research: Hidden Regions Revealed in First Complete Sequence of a Human Genome Scientists Have Finally Sequenced the Complete Human Genome – And Revealed New Genetic Secrets Reference: “A complete reference genome improves analysis of human genetic variation” by Sergey Aganezov, Stephanie M. Yan, Daniela C. Soto, Melanie Kirsche, Samantha Zarate, Pavel Avdeyev, Dylan J. Taylor, Kishwar Shafin, Alaina Shumate, Chunlin Xiao, Justin Wagner, Jennifer McDaniel, Nathan D. Olson, Michael E. G. Sauria, Mitchell R. Vollger, Arang Rhie, Melissa Meredith, Skylar Martin, Joyce Lee, Sergey Koren, Jeffrey A. Rosenfeld, Benedict Paten, Ryan Layer, Chen-Shan Chin, Fritz J. Sedlazeck, Nancy F. Hansen, Danny E. Miller, Adam M. Phillippy, Karen H. Miga, Rajiv C. McCoy, Megan Y. Dennis, Justin M. Zook and Michael C. Schatz, 1 April 2022, Science. DOI: 10.1126/science.abl3533 The newly discovered worm lizard species is the largest in the world. Presumably, the animals fed mainly on snails 50 million years ago. Credit: Jaime Chirinos Researchers discover 50-million-year-old animal from Tunisia could crack snail shells with its powerful jaws. The discovery of Terastiodontosaurus marcelosanchezi in Tunisia reveals the largest worm lizard species, combining unique surface-dwelling habits with a 56-million-year-old snail-eating specialization, showcasing extraordinary evolutionary consistency. Discovery of a New Fossil Species An international team of researchers has uncovered a new fossil species of worm lizard in Tunisia, named Terastiodontosaurus marcelosanchezi. This discovery marks the largest known member of the Amphisbaenia group, with a skull measuring over five centimeters. Unlike modern worm lizards, which primarily live underground, this ancient species may have spent time on the surface due to its size. Its fossil reveals remarkable dental adaptations, including powerful jaws and specialized tooth enamel, suggesting a diet centered on snails—a feeding habit that has persisted for over 56 million years. The recent checkerboard worm lizard (Trogonophis wiegmanni) also feeds on snails. Credit: Alberto Sanchez Vialas Unusual Traits of Worm Lizards Worm lizards, or Amphisbaenia, get their name from their striking resemblance to a worm with heads at both ends. This appearance, evocative of creatures from Greek mythology, is actually an evolutionary adaptation. With their rounded, blunt tail ends, worm lizards can move forward and backward with ease. Their worm-like bodies are ideally suited for navigating tight underground spaces that they dig themselves, enabling them to thrive in their burrowing lifestyles. International Research Collaboration An international team led by Prof. Dr. Georgios L. Georgalis from the Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals at the Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, with researchers from the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum in Frankfurt, the Institut des Sciences de l’Évolution de Montpellier, the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris, and the National Office of Mines in Tunis, has now described a previously unknown fossil species from the group of worm lizards in a new study. “Our discovery from Tunisia, with an estimated skull length exceeding five centimeters, is the largest known worm lizard species,” explains Georgalis. “All evidence indicates that the new species is related to the modern-day checkerboard worm lizard.” The researchers found the fossilized remains of Terastiodontosaurus marcelosanchezi – shown here is the upper jaw of the animal – in Djebel Chambi National Park in Tunisia. Credit: Georgios Georgalis Giant Worm Lizard: Life Above and Below Ground Unlike the recent Amphisbaenia, which are adapted to a subterranean lifestyle, the new species Terastiodontosaurus marcelosanchezi was probably too large to live exclusively in burrows. The researchers therefore assume that the animal also spent a significant amount of time on the surface. Co-author PD Dr. Krister Smith from the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt adds, “If worm lizards could grow as large as snakes, then the new species would be comparable to the Titanoboa, which is up to 13 meters long – in other words, significantly larger than its closest relatives. We think that the unusual body size is related to the higher temperatures in this period of the Earth’s history.” Advanced Dental Adaptations of a Prehistoric Predator Using micro-computed tomography, the research team documented the particular anatomy of the new species, which dates back to the Eocene. The worm lizard is characterized by an extreme dental morphology – including a massive tooth in the upper jaw, flat molars, and a number of other features – which distinguishes it from all other Amphisbaenia. “Visually, you can imagine the animal as a ‘sandworm’ from the ‘Dune’ science fiction novels and their movie adaptation. Based on the tooth structure and the unusually thick enamel, we can deduce that the animals had enormous muscle strength in their jaws,” explains Georgalis. We know that today’s checkerboard worm lizards like to eat snails by breaking open their shells. We can now assume that this lineage specialized in feeding on snails over 56 million years ago and could crack them open effortlessly with their powerful jaws. This feeding strategy is therefore extremely consistent – it has defied all environmental changes and accompanies the lineage to this day,” adds Smith in summary. Reference: “The world’s largest worm lizard: a new giant trogonophid (Squamata: Amphisbaenia) with extreme dental adaptations from the Eocene of Chambi, Tunisia” by Georgios L Georgalis, Krister T Smith, Laurent Marivaux, Anthony Herrel, El Mabrouk Essid, Hayet Khayati Ammar, Wissem Marzougui, Rim Temani and Rodolphe Tabuce, 21 November 2024, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae133 RRG455KLJIEVEWWF |
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