Described in *Nature Ecology & Evolution*, the 2.4-foot-long predator featured a flattened body that allowed it to inhabit deep-sea floors and suction-feed on passing prey. Its dense layers of bony armour shielded it from predatory ichthyosaurs while also preventing the rapid water loss that typically restricts amphibians to freshwater. Strontium isotope ratios preserved within the fossilized bones closely mirrored Late Triassic seawater, proving that these creatures matured entirely within the open ocean.
Key points
Dense bony plating allowed the ancient amphibian to limit osmotic water loss and survive…: Dense bony plating allowed the ancient amphibian to limit osmotic water loss and survive the salinity of deep-sea environments.
Unlike modern species with permeable skin, this creature utilized its mouth, digestive tr…: Unlike modern species with permeable skin, this creature utilized its mouth, digestive tract, and gills to effectively regulate salt levels.
The physical structure of its flattened head and small conical teeth indicates it operate…: The physical structure of its flattened head and small conical teeth indicates it operated as a seafloor suction feeder.
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Whenever we think of amphibians, we usually picture animals that live both on land and in water, such as frogs, salamanders and newts. Their ability to survive in both environments is one of the defining features of the group. But what if an amphibian once lived entirely in the sea? A newly described fossil from China may offer evidence of just that. Dating back around 237 million years, the armoured creature measured approximately 2.4 feet in length and could challenge what scientists have long understood about amphibian evolution.
The newly identified species, named
Gerrothorax maritimus, lived during the Late Triassic period. Researchers examined two nearly complete fossilised skeletons discovered in what is now China's Guizhou Province, an area that was once covered by the sea. The findings, published in the journal
Nature Ecology & Evolution, provide the first fossil evidence of a stem amphibian that may have lived entirely in a marine environment.
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