Brasilia [Brazil], January 9: Paleontologists have described a new species of ancient frogs that lived at the time of the dinosaurs. Their fossils have been found in Sao Paulo, reports Ameghiniana.
The amphibians belonged to the extinct genus Baurubatrachus. They lived on the territory of modern Brazil during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period, 72-66 million years ago.
The species has been given the scientific name Baurubatrachussantosdoroi. Scientists had previously known only one fossil of the genus Baurubatrachus, but it lived several million years later than the frog from Sao Paulo.
The fossils of Baurubatrachussantosdoroi were found in the Adamantina Formation. Their analysis pointed to previously unknown anatomical features of the amphibians, such as the presence of a hole under the hearing organs.
According to the authors of the scientific paper, Baurubatrachussantosdoroi is the first officially named frog species from the Cretaceous period in Sao Paulo. The discovery will enable a better understanding of the evolution of the frogs, which until now very little is known about.
Earlier it was reported that the bones of a giant crocodile were found in Brazil. It lived at the time of the dinosaurs, as reported by Mir24.
Source: TV Brics