American paleontologists have discovered a new species of fossil amphibian that lived on Earth approximately 270 million years ago. The fossilized creature was found during excavations in Texas. The study was published on: Web site Smithsonian Institution (SI).
The amphibian was named Kermitops gratus, or kermitops, in honor of Kermit the Frog, a popular character from the puppet television shows Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. According to scientists, this ancient animal was a distant relative of modern-day amphibians.
Researchers determined that Kermitops belonged to the order Temnospondyls, which is considered the common ancestor of lissamphibians, a group that includes all modern amphibians such as frogs, salamanders, and legless amphibians.
Paleontologists noted that the fossil was well preserved and allowed examination of the skull. Analysis of the bones revealed that Kermitops had a mixture of features from four ancestral amphibians and other living vertebrates. Judging by the proportions of their skulls, these creatures resembled fat salamanders and fed on insects.
Previous scientists discovered Remains of a giant freshwater dolphin that lived in the Amazon 16 million years ago.