WhatsApp Logo Subscribe
For News Alert

News

Fossil of 2 million year old frog found in Argentina

June 9, 2020 03:17 AM


Twitter Share Facebook Share WhatsApp Share

Argentine paleontologists have uncovered fossilized remains of a rare species of frog that lived two million years ago, the science and technology agency at the La Matanza national university said Monday.

"We know very little about prehistoric frogs and toads," said Federico Agnolin, a researcher at the Natural Science Museum.

"Frogs and toads are very sensitive to climate and environmental changes, which makes them an important source to understand past climates."

The fossil was discovered 44 meters (144 foot) underground during the digging of a well in San Pedro, around 180 kilometers to the north of the capital Buenos Aires.

It consisted of a "very small humerus (arm bone) of a tiny amphibian, distinct from horned and tree frogs," said Angolin.

Despite the fossil's size, it was possible to identify the frog because Anuras, the tailless amphibians group to which frogs and toads belong, have a unique structure at the distal end of the humerus that forms the elbow joint, Angolin said.

That peculiarity gave the frogs great agility.

"Discovering a new species of amphibian from the end of the Pliocene-beginning of the Pleistocene is a huge boon for Argentine paleontology," he added.

The Pleistocene geological epoch began around 2.6 million years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XpMCGt6uvA


Most Read

  1. Violent protests erupt at Lahore's Punjab Group of Colleges over girl's rape Violent protests erupt at Lahore's Punjab Group of Colleges over girl's rape
  2. Scores of LCWU students protest harassment by clerk Scores of LCWU students protest harassment by clerk
  3. Female student of Punjab University commits suicide Female student of Punjab University commits suicide
  4. World Anatomy Day celebrated at Fatima Jinnah Medical University World Anatomy Day celebrated at Fatima Jinnah Medical University
  5. ‘Madhubala’ to be shifted to Karachi Safari Park on Nov 26 ‘Madhubala’ to be shifted to Karachi Safari Park on Nov 26
  6. Karan Johar's sharp response guels ongoing fued between Alia Bhatt and Divya Khosla Karan Johar's sharp response guels ongoing fued between Alia Bhatt and Divya Khosla