Research
237-million-year-old fossils reveal a bizarre armored sea amphibian
The Brief
- Fossils dated to about 237 million years ago were discovered in China.
- The heavily armoured amphibian was roughly giant salamander-sized.
- It may be the first known amphibian adapted to a fully marine lifestyle.
Why it matters
The find challenges the assumption that modern amphibians' inability to survive in saltwater reflects an ancient limitation, offering new evidence on how amphibians colonised marine environments.
Who’s affected
- palaeontologists and evolutionary biologists
- science readers interested in ancient marine ecosystems
- #paleontology
- #amphibians
- #marine evolution
- #fossils
- #china
A bizarre, heavily armored amphibian roamed the oceans 237 million years ago, despite the fact that modern amphibians cannot survive entirely in saltwater. Discovered in China, the giant salamander-sized creature may be the first known amphibian to have adapted to a fully marine…
Timeline
ScienceDaily reports the fossil discovery and its interpretation as a fully marine amphibian
Plants & Animals News -- ScienceDaily
237-million-year-old fossils reveal a bizarre armored sea amphibian