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| Triadobatrachus Fossil range: Early Triassic |
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Triadobatrachus is an extinct genus of frog, including only one known species, Triadobatrachus massinoti. The 10 cm (4 in) long frog is the oldest frog known to science, and an excellent example of a transitional fossil.
Triadobatrachus still retained many primitive characteristics, such as more vertebrae (24) than modern frogs (5-9), including six tail vertebrae in adults. It probably swam with kicking movements of its hind legs, which would further develop into the powerful jumping legs seen in modern frogs. Triadobatrachus's skull resembled that of modern frogs, consisting of a latticework of thin bones separated by large openings. As evidenced by its large ear openings, Triadobatrachus possessed good hearing.
This creature, or a cousin, evolved eventually into modern frogs, the earliest example of which is Sanyanlichan, millions of years later in the late Jurassic.
It was first discovered on 1937, when Adrien Massinot, near the village of Betsieka in northern Madagascar, found an almost complete skeleton. The animal must have fossilized soon after its death, because all bones lay in their natural position. Only the anterior part of the skull and the ends of the limbs were missing.
Although it was found in marine deposits, the general structure of Triadobatrachus shows that it may have lived for part of the time on land and breathed air. Its proximity to the mainland is further borne out by the remains of terrestrial plants found together with it.
References
Benes, Josef. Prehistoric Animals and Plants. Pg. 114. Prague: Artia, 1979.
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