#fossil shell Madagascar

[uk-fossils]

RARE Giant 8" Perisphinctes Fossil Ammonite – Callovian, Jurassic – Tulear, Madagascar – Authentic Specimen with Certificate

Specimen: Giant Perisphinctes Fossil Ammonite

Fossil Type: Ammonite – Extinct Marine Cephalopod

Age: Middle Jurassic – Callovian Stage (~166 – 163 million years ago)

Geological Formation: Tulear Region, Madagascar

Size: Giant – 8 inches

Scale Cube = 1cm – Please refer to photo for accurate sizing

Includes Certificate of Authenticity

This RARE 8" Perisphinctes fossil ammonite is an extraordinary specimen from the Middle Jurassic Callovian deposits of Tulear, Madagascar, a globally renowned site for premium-quality ammonite fossils. Its size, preservation, and ribbed spiral morphology make it a stand-out piece for any fossil enthusiast or natural history collector.

Perisphinctes is a genus of extinct ammonite mollusks that flourished in the Jurassic seas around 166 to 163 million years ago. These cephalopods were free-swimming marine predators, with a shell structure that evolved for buoyancy and streamlined motion through the water. Their symmetrical ribbing and tight coiling make them especially attractive for both display and academic study.

What sets this particular specimen apart is its exceptional size and detail preservation. At 8 inches, it sits among the larger representatives of the genus—specimens of this calibre are significantly less common, making it an ideal centrepiece in any fossil display.

Fossils from the Tulear region are highly sought after for their superb quality and distinct coloration, a result of the mineral-rich Jurassic seabeds. This ammonite has been carefully cleaned and prepped, revealing the intricate suture lines and growth ribs typical of Perisphinctes ammonites.

ACTUAL AS SEEN:

The specimen shown in the photo is the exact fossil you will receive. This is not a stock image. The piece has been professionally hand-selected and documented for authenticity and accuracy. Please refer to the scale cube (1cm) for sizing. Colours may vary slightly depending on lighting and monitor settings.

Why This Fossil?

Genuine Middle Jurassic Perisphinctes ammonite

Rare size at 8 inches

Excellent preservation and visual detail

From a world-famous fossil region: Tulear, Madagascar

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity

Ideal for collectors, educators, and natural history displays

Note: Once this specimen is sold, the listing will be updated with a new fossil of similar type but different shape/size. We recommend taking a screenshot for your records once purchased.

[reddpenn]

I'm back from the rock show! Here are the Cool Rocks I got!

Let's start with the fossils this time.

This year I finally tracked down a Tully Monster, which is my state fossil! He's not a complete fossil, but you can see his eyestalk and the bottom of his proboscis very clearly.

A big chunk of dinosaur bone from Utah! Dino bone is easy to ID due to its distinct pattern, where agate and jasper have filled in the porous structure of the bone.

This is a coprolite, a piece of fossilized dinosaur poop! This one is from Madagascar.

This one is a stromatolite, a rock formation created by a colony of bacteria! Stromatolites are some of the oldest fossils on Earth. In fact, the microbes that make them were likely the very first lifeforms on the planet. And they're still around today, mostly unchanged from their ancient ancestors, and still making rock formations! This little stromatolite came from Madagascar.

A giant chunk of Turritella agate, which I won at the silent auction! Turritella agate is made of a bunch of fossilized snail shells all packed together and filled in with agate. (Despite the name, they're not actually Turritella snails, but rather Elimia tenera.) When cut and polished, it reveals beautiful organic patterns. This stuff comes from Wyoming.

That's all the fossils I brought home! Now on to the minerals!

I was very responsible and didn't come home with a million agates this year, but I couldn't resist this gorgeous rain flower agate! Hailing from Nanijing, China, these agates are naturally polished by the Yangtze River and have a unique, frosted finish.

Another cabochon for my cab collection! This is afghanite, a blue mineral that isn't related to the sodalite family, but likes to grow alongside it.

It fluoresces!

Vesuvianite, a mineral that gets its name because it was first discovered on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius! The dark crystals growing on its surface are garnets. This piece is showing off a great example of vesuvianite's crystal habit and terminations.

A huge zircon crystal! Zircon is the oldest mineral on planet Earth. There's a deposit in Australia which has been radiometric dated to be about 4.4 billion years old! Not this guy, though. This one is from Pakistan.

It fluoresces!

An AMAZING specimen of anatase! It's extremely rare for anatase crystals to grow this large. In fact, the only other anatase crystals I've seen in person had to be viewed under a microscope!

Here's the most expensive piece I came home with - a South African diamond! Can you believe I didn't have a diamond in my collection yet? That problem has been remedied.

It fluoresces!

And finally, my friends and I broke open a few geodes at the geode-cracking booth. I picked out some Trancas geodes from Mexico.

This locale produces weird, wavy, wormy crystals! These formations occur when quartz (in the form of chalcedony or hyalite) grows atop hair-thin, curly crystals of anhydrite.

They fluoresce!

And that was my haul from the rock show!

[bekkathyst]

Sainte Marie Mineral Show Finds 2024 Complete List

To claim an item, please comment on the individual post. The complete rules can be found here. Please be sure to read the rules before claiming :)

Preview Items:

Amethyst Stalactite Specimen on Stand

Blueberry Fluorite on Quartz Specimen

Fluorite on Calcite Specimens

July 5th - 7th Sale:

Pink Opal Palm Stones

Bolivianite Palm Stones

Rhodochrosite Palm Stones

UV Reactive Calcite Specimens

Polished Malachite w Chrysocolla - Sold Out!

Polished Tourmalinated Natural Citrine

Rare Opalized Fluorite from Russia

Harlequin Jade from Italy

Scenic Quartz Round Gems

Rare Natural Citrine from Mexico

Amethyst Crystal Shards

Ocean Jasper Bowls - Sold Out!

Blue Calcite Starfish from Argentina

High-Grade Blue Calcite Palm Stones from Argentina

Phantom Amethyst Spheres

Tumbled Agate from Bulgaria - Sold Out!

Blue Barite Specimens from Spain

Epidote Clusters from Turkey

"Forest Quartz" from Turkey

Sparkly Grape Agate Clusters

Trolleite Hearts - Sold Out!

High-Grade Black Tourmaline Crystals

Cobaltoan Calcite from Morocco

Fossilized Snail Shells from Hungary

Sterling Silver Meteorite & Libyan Desert Glass Pendants

Sterling Silver Meterotie & Moldavite Pendants

Moldavite Cabochons - Sold Out!

Moldavite Adjustable Bracelets

Chrysocolla Freeforms from Peru

Charoite Slabs - Sold Out!

Natural Citrine Facets from Madagascar

Sphalerite Facets from Spain - Sold Out!

Harlequin Quartz Facets from Madagascar

Natural Smoky Ametrine Cabochons from Brazil

Unique Included Quartz Cabochons/Gems

Sparkly Agate Druzy Points

Large Trolleite Obelisks

Large Purple Labradorite Crescent Moons - Sold Out!

Pink/Red Chalcedony Geodes from Morocco

Large Prehnite Clusters from Morocco

New Find "Agathyst" Flames from Brazil

Amethyst & Calcite Specimens from Uruguay w Metal Stands

Thank you so much! I will periodically update the list with sold out items.

[wingsoffirenames]

SandWing Names - Letter A

Aardvark (A type of nocturnal burrowing mammal with long snouts.) Aardwolf (A kind of hyena.) Aarush (Hindi word that means “first ray of sun.”) Abalos (A dune field on Mars. Also good for a NightWing hybrid.) Acacia (A genus of trees.) Accona (A desert in Italy.) Acinonyx (The genus the cheetah belongs to.) Adder (A kind of viper.) Adenium (Also known as the desert rose. A type of flower.) Adobe (A kind of clay used as a building material, typically in the form of sun-dried bricks. Also good for a MudWing hybrid.) Adust (Scorched or burned.) Aeonium (Plants that grow in warm, dry climates.) Aesculapian (A type of non venomous snake.) Agamidae (A family of iguanian lizards.) Agosto (Spanish for 'august'.) Agua (Spanish for 'water'.) Aker (The ancient Egyptian personification of the horizon.) Alectrona (The Greek goddess of the sunrise.) Alhagi (Also known as Camelthorns. A type of desert shrub.) Alluaudia (A type of succulent native to Madagascar.) Almond (The seed of the almond tree.) Aloe / Aloe Vera (A type of succulent that primarily grows in arid climates.) Anteater (Toothless insect eating mammals with long tongues.) Arroyo (A steep-sided gully formed by the action of fast-flowing water in an arid or semi-arid region.) Argali (Also known as the mountain sheep.) Antelope (A genus of hoofed mammals in the Bovidae family.) Aspidis (Latin for 'cobra'.) Anthill (A nest in the form of a mound built by ants or termites.) Ari (Hebrew for “lion.") Ash (The powdery substance that remains after something burns.) Arid (A land or climate that has little to no rain and is extremely dry.) Antlion (Insects primarily found in sandy regions. The larva commonly trap small insects in pits they've dug in the ground.) Aridisol (Arid soil.) Anhur (An Egyptian god of war.) Anubis (The Egyptian god of the dead.) Amargosa (A desert along the California-Nevada border.) Ankh (An ancient Egyptian symbol that represents life.) Anopheles (A genus of mosquitos.) Amaterasu (Japanese goddess of the sun.) Arenaceous (Consisting of sand particles., or animals and plants living or growing in sand.) Ariocarpus (A type of succulent.) Amber (A hard and translucent fossilized resin, or a yellow/orange color.) Armadillo (Mammals with unique shells, also known for digging.) Apophis (Ancient Egyptian god of chaos.) Ant (Insects that live in colonies.) Atacama (A desert in Chile.) August (The last summer month.) Aureate (Denoting, made of, or the color of gold.) Aurum (The Latin word for gold and source of its chemical symbol.) Axlewood (A tree native to India.)

[clavainov]

Local Insects Roundup Jan - Mar 25

The charismatic ground beetle Carabus cancellatus... What a treat! This genus is informally referred to as the slug hunters, which makes them sound incredibly cool... Scary predator hunting the fearsome slug. Talking about the genus, it has over 900 species, which is unusually high. Experts speculate that this is because they're not very good at dispersal, so local populations became genetically distinct as they stayed somewhat isolated. One of the reasons for this is that they can't fly - their elytra are fused. Most Carabus species are nocturnal, but this one is also active during the day.

The beautiful Dinocras stonefly nymph. Stoneflies (Plecoptera) are one of the oldest orders of winged insects, with close relatives identified from fossils from the Carboniferous Era around 300 million years ago. The nymphs are very sensitive to water pollution, so I'm always happy to see some in our local river. I've seen dozens of stonefly adults and nymphs around where I live but haven't managed to get even one identified to the species level. No one seems to be studying them, especially the Pyrénéan species (pretty sure I keep seeing species documented as only living in the Alps), so we have to appreciate them twice as much to make up for it! Their moulted larval shell is a common sight on rocks in summer.

The industrious Limnephilinae caddisfly larva. I think to identify caddisfly larval species you have to destroy their cute homes - the collection of twigs dragging behind them. I won't do it! Or probably you need a better camera which I don't have, oops. These guys make a little tube to inhabit as camouflage. It's effective at a glance, but they're pretty active, so it doesn't take long to realize there's a creature in there when a twig mysteriously keeps crawling. These guys are also a great indicator of water pollution, and they're everywhere, which makes me feel slightly better about the state of the natural world.

The sneaky water snipe fly (Athericidae) larva. Unlike the stoneflies and caddisflies shown above, which are not flies and instead each a cool different thing, water snipe flies are actually flies (Diptera). When I found this little guy, I had no idea what it was, and I thought the bigger end was the head. Then it started moving backwards, which was confusing, so maybe the other end was the head? Then it turns out these guys "lack a true head" so no wonder I was confused. I couldn't get an ID more specific than the family, but Atherix ibis (which this one could be, they're present in the region 🤷) lay their eggs under bridges and then when they hatch the larvae just... PLOP fall in the water, which is incredible, A+ parenting.

Honourable mention (not an insect):

The stunning pill milipede Loboglomeris rugifera. Very cute, and very local in distribution. Although they look like "pill bugs" (woodlice, which are terrestrial crustaceans), these are myriapods, in fact milipedes. It's an example of convergent evolution making two genetically different species resemble one another. Pill milipedes are generally bigger - this one was 2cm long. There's some very cool pill milipedes in Madagascar that are an example of island gigantism - some can get as large as an orange (?!) while being an incredible green colour.

[shopbejeweled]

These genuine ammonite fossils from Madagascar have inlaid abalone shell set into the fossil's chambers. Unique earrings!

[clansbeforetime]

Happy Fossil Day!

National Fossil Day is an annual celebration held to highlight the scientific and educational value of paleontology and the importance of preserving fossils for future generations. - National Park Services

As we are a server who bases our lore very heavily on fossils, from the prehistoric environment down to our characters, the saber-toothed cats, we thought we’d hop in and celebrate this day with some fun facts about fossil animals you could possibly encounter here in the Baobab!

Deinotherium

The heavy-weight representative of TuskClan’s megafauna is colloquially known as simply “The Elephant”, though you may be quick to spot that these are no modern-day African Elephants. Instead, the proboscideans that you’d encounter out on the savanna are based on the famous extinct genus of DeinotheriumI, a close relative of modern elephants. They are known for their distinct tusk-shape, curving downwards instead of the modern elephants outward tusk!

An artistic reconstruction of the species D. bozasi

Caluma Benovskyi

Chameleons are some of the most recognizable reptiles on the planet, known for their prehensile tails and independently mobile eyes. Not much is known of the fossil chameleons of Africa, but there have been discoveries that show that there were indeed these funky little reptiles climbing around SunClan’s forests, changing colors to try and hide from even the most observant saber.

an artistic reconstruction of Caluma Benovskyi

Euthecodon

Out in the waters of BevyClan, especially in the crocodile lake, you’re likely to find yourself face-to-snout with one of the fiercest archosaurs left on the planet, the crocodile. The genus Euthecodon comprise of three species of long-snouted crocodiles, these beasts appear to have convergently evolved their signature snouts with modern-day gharials, and had originally been thought to have been an ancestor of the croc-cousins, though research has more heavily suggested that BevyClan is indeed home to true crocodiles.

photo taken at a zoo in the Netherlands, of the Euthecodon’s closest living relative, Mecistops

Alongside these fun fossil creatures, sabers in the baobab clans have found some unique collectibles today, be it strange bugs in tree-sap in SunClan's fallen trees, ridged shells in the cub islands of BevyClan, or odd reptilian teeth in TuskClan's sand dunes! Maybe doing a bit of research could help our sabers understand what the world was like before they were in it, and what the Baobab region looked like many moons ago....

Sources and fun extra reads!

Black, Riley. “An Extinct “Anchor-Tusked” Proboscidean.” Science, 24 July 2009, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/an-extinct-anchor-tusked-proboscidean.

“Calumma Benovskyi, a New Fossil Chameleon from Kenya.” Www.chameleons.info, www.chameleons.info/l/calumma-benovskyi-a-new-fossil-chameleon-from-kenya/. Accessed 11 Oct. 2023.

Čerňanský, Andrej, et al. “The Only Complete Articulated Early Miocene Chameleon Skull (Rusinga Island, Kenya) Suggests an African Origin for Madagascar’s Endemic Chameleons.” Scientific Reports, vol. 10, no. 1, 10 Jan. 2020, p. 109, www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-57014-5, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-57014-5.

commondescentpc. “Episode 66 – Elephants.” The Common Descent Podcast, 28 July 2019, commondescentpodcast.com/2019/07/27/episode-66-elephants/. Accessed 11 Oct. 2023.

“Euthecodon.” Wikipedia, 17 Mar. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthecodon. Accessed 11 Oct. 2023.

Hitchcock, Edward. Elementary Geology: By Edward Hitchcock. Google Books, M. H. Newman & Company, 1847, books.google.com/books?id=dZiyAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA154&dq=dinotherium+++bank+++anchor&ei=-bFpSu_sCJKOyASrnpWgBA#v=onepage&q&f=false. Accessed 11 Oct. 2023.

“National Fossil Day (U.S. National Park Service).” Www.nps.gov, www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/index.htm. Accessed 11 Oct. 2023.

[noddytheornithopod]

North America was a good end to the season, weird break from naming conventions aside! 

Alamosaurus segment was a cool start. Was expecting it to be the last, but oh well. We didn't see much of the sauropods but it was still nice to see them. Tyrannosaurus, troodontids and Quetzalcoatlus all flocking to a dead one, and the Quetz actually scare off the T. rex. I'm sure some T. rex fanboy is upset about that somewhere, lol. but yeah, was a cool opening.

Oceans reject, staring Globidens and some ammonites. This was a nice strategy, and even as I always found Globidens interesting because of its teeth I didn't even consider more complex ways it could take down hard shelled prey.

The Pectinodon segment might've been my favourite. Unique cast, unique setting, and the critters themselves had lots of charm and character. The juvenile Pectinodon had nice colouration too, as was the touch of the father being the parent here, like actual troodont fossils.

The Triceratops segment was probably the most "typical" of the bunch, but it was still nice to see, especially all the individual variation between different trikes.

Nanuqsaurus hunting Ornithomimus was a nice end. Not my favourite segment, but still a different way of seeing tyrannosaurs hunt, especially because some of them probably COULD have been at least somewhat built for speed.

All in all, a good season! Not sure how I'd place it compared to Season 1, I feel similarly about both besides S2 having shorter length because they added the science stuff on the end of the eps.

Favourite episode... not sure. Maybe Badlands? You'd think it would be Islands, but I guess Badlands to me just felt the most consistent and cohesive, nitpicks about faunal choices in the third segment aside. Also can't go wrong with the Deccan Traps.

My favourite segments overall would be the Madagascar ones, however. Simosuchus, Adalatherium, and Beelzebufo help show the wonder of non-dinosaurs even as they shared the world with them.

As for the future, who knows what to expect? Season 2 was made mostly along Season 1, so now we don't know if BBC and Apple want to make more or not. If they did though, I'd be down! There's plenty to still explore.

[tff-praefectus]

REMPC-C0040

Perisphinctes indogermanus

Jurassic, Oxfordian

Near Sakaraha

Tulear Province, Madagascar

[uk-fossils]

MELCHIORITES EMERICI Iridescent Fossil Ammonite Mother of Pearl Shell Albian Cretaceous Madagascar Genuine

Discover a stunning, genuine piece of ancient history with this MELCHIORITES EMERICI iridescent fossil ammonite, preserved with beautiful Mother of Pearl shell. This exceptional specimen dates from the Albian Stage of the Early Cretaceous Period (approximately 113 to 100 million years ago) and was found in the fossil-rich layers of Mitsinjo, Madagascar.

Geology & Origin:

Mitsinjo, located on the western coast of Madagascar, is renowned for its Cretaceous marine fossil beds. During the Albian stage, this region was submerged under a shallow sea, providing perfect conditions for marine life such as ammonites to thrive and fossilize. Over millions of years, mineralization preserved the shell's intricate structures, with the original aragonite layer transforming into breathtaking iridescent "Mother of Pearl" (nacre), creating shimmering hues across the fossil's surface.

Fossil Type & Species:

Type: Fossil Ammonite (Extinct marine cephalopod)

Species: Melchiorites emerici

Preservation: Original shell with iridescent mother of pearl layer

Features:

Genuine, 100% natural fossil

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity

Carefully selected for quality and aesthetic appeal

The specimen shown is the exact piece you will receive

Scale rule / cube shown = 1cm: Full sizing visible in photo

Why Buy From Us?

All of our fossils are carefully hand-selected and professionally prepared to ensure they meet the highest standards. We guarantee that every item is 100% genuine, and each comes with a Certificate of Authenticity for your peace of mind.

Perfect for collectors, enthusiasts, educational purposes, or as a unique natural history decor piece!

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Zophobas Darkling Beetle (Superworm) - Zophobas atratus + insect fossils

The darkness loving Beetles return for showcase, this time with lighting conditions that give us a clear look at several individuals. Since the last time I saw them, their habitat has undergone some renovations, but these armored vegetarians look nearly the same, although these are likely new individuals compared to the ones of 2019. They’re all well established into adulthood as when Z. atratus emerges from pupation, it appears to sport a light color that turns to brick-red and then gradually darkens to black over time. Either way, it’s great to see them again. These insects live in between a colony of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (to their right) and a scorpion, each terrarium offering insight into the world of arthropods. Despite the light shining upon them, these dark-loving Beetles were reasonably active: crawling around their environment and on each other. After the lights turn off in their home, we can only guess how much more they’ll get up to. While not as voracious as their “Superworm” larval form, that plate of vegetables may need a touch of refilling. 

Talking of food, these adult Darklings are very fortunate to be on display here because (as mentioned before) as larvae are quite nutritious and highly valued as feed for reptile and amphibian pets. In the wild, this would be the exact same case: many delicious individuals acting as detritivores and omnivores in their ecosystems which convert spent energy into new energy fit for growth or for consumption. It sounds like dirty work but such roles are highly valued in ecosystems, and while soft and vulnerable as larvae, the armor they acquire as adults makes navigating the wild much easier. Even then, they can still fly away to new location if they need to. It sounds like common knowledge, but there are a few species of Darkling Beetles that have fused wingcases, meaning flight is impossible. Never undervalue the freedom wings can grant, even if they are energetically costly in the insect world. Here, in the human world, these specimens can live with no danger of the Vietnamese mossy frog tank just a few feet away (whose denizens are fed Common House Crickets instead). Having seen a few videos observing these Beetles, it may offer more interactivity/perspective to dot the shells with color (safe on the shell and edibility) and journey out what each Beetle does over the course of a day. Perhaps we may find a favorite character among this group?

Pictures were taken on March 21, 2023 with a Google Pixel 4. Please go and visit the bugs! And also visit the section of the ROM that examines prehistoric life. They hold a few fossilized insect specimens, some of whom are much larger than the insects we know today. However, they are still quite similar to today’s insects for a physical appearance.

[neo-jurassica]

Over 110,000,000 years old. 🕰 This Ammonite shell was found in Madagascar, and is known as a cleoniceras. 🇲🇬 . Follow @neojurassica to see more #prehistoric wonders! 🦕 . 🖥 www.neojurassica.com 🦖 Dinosaur Specialists 🦴 Genuine Fossils ⚙️ Display Customisation �� Free UK Delivery ✈️ International Delivery . #ammonite #ammonites #shell #seashell #nature #natural #naturalhistory #landscape #history #prehistory #archeology #geology #paleontology #palaeontology #science #fossil #fossils #fossilhunting #fossilfriday #crystals #enchanted #whimsical #mystery #jurassic #jurassicpark #neojurassica #woods #forest #ammonitefossil https://www.instagram.com/p/CTXIXpCNgG1/?utm_medium=tumblr

[letstravels]

The Tsingy of Bemaraha are listed as World Heritage and are part of the network of National Parks of Madagascar managed by Angap. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990. The Tsingy look like a real limestone cathedral, made up of very dense faults, cracks, and on the surface of limestone blocks cut into blades or sharp needles. Limestone is formed by deposits of fossils and shells that died on the sea floor 200 million years ago, followed by rainwater 5 million years ago. Tsingy is one of the most spectacular landscapes of the Big Island.

[montereybayaquarium]

For the last day of International Cephalopod Awareness Days: Cheers to the cephalopods that once reigned our ancient seas! 🎉

Thanks to the fossil record, more than 17,000 species of extinct shelled cephalopods have been identified, like the three ammonites in the photos above. Compared to the 800+ shell-less species alive today, the ocean used to have one shell of a lot of cephalopods!

[wtf-triassic]

Triadobatrachus massinoti

By Scott Reid

Etymology: Triassic frog

First Described By: Piveteau, 1936

Classification: Biota, Archaea, Proteoarchaeota, Asgardarchaeota, Eukaryota, Neokaryota, Scotokaryota Opimoda, Podiata, Amorphea, Obazoa, Opisthokonta, Holozoa, Filozoa, Choanozoa, Animalia, Eumetazoa, Parahoxozoa, Bilateria, Nephrozoa, Deuterostomia, Chordata, Olfactores, Vertebrata, Craniata, Gnathostomata, Eugnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Rhipidistia, Tetrapodomorpha, Eotetrapodiformes, Elpistostegalia, Stegocephalia, Temnospondyli, Euskelia, Dissorophoidea, Xerodromes, Amphibamiformes, Lissamphibia, Batrachia, Salientia, Triadobatrachidae

Referred Species: T. massinoti

Status: Extinct 

Time and Place: Approximately 251–250 million years ago, in the late Induan to early Olenekian of the Early Triassic.

Triadobatrachus is only known from the Sakamena Formation in Northern Madagascar.

Physical Description: Triadobatrachus superficially resembles modern frogs, it was only around 10 cm long, had a broad head and a very reduced tail. Its skeleton had many features associated only with frogs among amphibians, including a very frog-like skull with big eyes and their characteristically elongated hips. Soft tissues preserved around the fossil even show that it had the wide, round body of frogs too. However, the skeleton of Triadobatrachus differed from living frogs in a few major ways. It had much more vertebrae than living frogs, 26 compared to the maximum 4–9 of frogs alive today, giving it a much longer body, and these vertebrae had ribs, unlike living frogs. Its legs were shorter and more squat, especially its back legs, which were hardly any longer than its front ones, making Triadobatrachus incapable of hopping despite its derived hips. Even the stumpy tail was still more prominent than in living frogs, and may have even retained some degree of mobility. To sum it up, Triadobatrachus more or less looked like a stretched out frog with short legs. Think of a horned toad lizard but with more of the toad part and less horned.

Diet: Like other frogs, Triadobatrachus was probably carnivorous, likely feeding on invertebrates like insects and other arthropods, molluscs, worms, and perhaps even any small vertebrates it could fit in its mouth.

Behavior: One of the most standout features of Triadobatrachus is that it couldn’t have hopped like modern frogs. Instead, Triadobatrachus would have walked around on land more like a salamander, although it is unknown just how much time it would have spent on land in the first place anyway. It was clearly amphibious, and it probably swam by kicking its back legs like frogs, unlike the undulation of newts and salamanders. It would have spawned like living amphibians too, laying shell-less eggs in water that hatched into tadpoles and underwent metamorphosis just like modern frogs. Otherwise, its behaviour is a mystery. We don’t even know if it would have croaked or not.

Ecosystem: Not much is directly known about the ecosystem Triadobatrachus inhabited, as the only known fossil had been washed out to sea along the coast. The intact body at least implies the body wasn’t transported far, so Triadobatrachus probably lived in coastal floodplain rivers and swamps. Various other temnospondyl amphibians are known from the area, including Edingeralla, Deltacephalus, Mahavisaurus, Wantzsosaurus and Tertremoides. Despite being amphibians, many of these temnospondyls were likely euryhaline, meaning they could tolerate salt water and inhabited the coastline, something only a few living amphibians are even remotely capable of standing. The peculiar aquatic reptile Hovasaurus lived along the coasts, although it’s unknown if it ever crossed paths with the freshwater frogs, and terrestrial procolophonid parareptiles were also present. Plant remains suggest the environment was tropical and semi-arid with a monsoonal climate that supported conifer forests along with seed ferns, horsetails and clubmosses.

Other: Triadobatrachus is one of the only known stem-frogs, along with the polish Czatkobatrachus, and is certainly the oldest. The early evolution of Lissamphibia (all living amphibians) is poorly understood, particularly whether their ancestry lies in the temnospondyls or some other “amphibians”. Triadobatrachus doesn’t solve this debate, although it does show similarities to the Permian amphibamiforms like Gerobatrachus, supporting the temnospondyl affinity for batrachians (the frogs and salamanders) amongst dissorophoids.

Before they were considered to be temnospondyls, lissamphibians were often thought to be lepospondyls, a probably paraphyletic or even polyphyletic (i.e. unnatural) collection of “amphibians” on the tetrapod tree more derived than temnospondyls (some may even be honest to goodness amniotes!). This picture is complicated by caecilians, which at one point were suggested to be lepospondyls while batrachians were temnospondyls, making Lissamphibia polyphyletic! The story got even stranger after a little Triassic amphibian, Chinlestegophis, was discovered in 2017 and was considered to be a stem-caecilian. Chinlestegophis pulled caecilians back into temnospondyls with the other lissamphibians, but at almost opposite ends of the temnospondyl tree—batrachians in amphibamiforms and caecilians in with the stereospondyls related to the giant metoposaurs! So lissamphibians may all be temnospondyls...but also polyphyletic, unless nearly all of Temnospondyli is classed as lissamphibians and becomes part of the crown group. This would also mean our small modern amphibians both independently miniaturised from the much larger, classic predatory amphibians of the Palaeozoic and Triassic. What a concept.

Regardless of temnospondyl taxonomic troubles, Triadobatrachus is a perfect transitional form from more generalised amphibians to the highly specialised anatomy of frogs. Particularly, it shows that some of their unique anatomical adaptations evolved before they were able to hop, and may have functioned for other activities like swimming. The almost complete preservation of a skeleton as delicate as one of a small amphibian is a remarkable find, let alone one that represents a perfect transitional form for a group of animals whose evolutionary history is shrouded in mystery, and makes Triadobatrachus a fantastic find, no matter how unassuming it may be.

~ By Scott Reid

Sources under the Cut 

Ascarrunz, Eduardo; Rage, Jean-Claude; Legreneur, Pierre; Laurin, Michel (2016). "Triadobatrachus massinoti, the earliest known lissamphibian (Vertebrata: Tetrapoda) re-examined by µCT-Scan, and the evolution of trunk length in batrachians". Contributions to Zoology. 58 (2): 201–234.

Lires, A. I., Soto, I. M., & Gómez, R. O. (2016). Walk before you jump: new insights on early frog locomotion from the oldest known salientian. Paleobiology, 42(4), 612-623.

Maganuco, S., Steyer, J.S., Pasini, G., Boulay, M., Lorrain, S., Bénéteau, A., Auditore, M. (2009). “An exquisite specimen of Edingerella madagascarensis (Temnospondyli) from the Lower Triassic of NW Madagascar; cranial anatomy, phylogeny, and restorations”. Società italiana di scienze naturali.

Pardo, Jason D.; Small, Bryan J.; Huttenlocker, Adam K. (2017-07-03). "Stem caecilian from the Triassic of Colorado sheds light on the origins of Lissamphibia". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 114 (27): E5389–E5395

Piveteau, J. (1936). "Une forme ancestrale des amphibiens anoures dans le Trias inférieur de Madagascar". Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l'Académie des Sciences. 202: 1607–1608.

Rage,J-C; Roček, Z. (1989). "Redescription of Triadobatrachus massinoti (Piveteau, 1936) an anuran amphibian from the Early Triassic". Palaeontographica Abteilung A. 206: 1–16.

Roček , Z., Rage, J-C. (2000). "13. Proanuran Stages (Triadobatrachus, Czatkobatrachus)". In Heatwole, H.; Carroll, R. L. (eds.). Amphibian Biology. Paleontology: The Evolutionary History of Amphibians. 4. Surrey Beatty & Sons. pp. 1284–1294.

Ročková, H., Roček Z. (2005). “Development of the pelvis and posterior part of the vertebral column in the Anura”. Journal of Anatomy. 206(1): 17–35.

Xing, L., Stanley, E. L., Bai, M., & Blackburn, D. C. (2018). “The earliest direct evidence of frogs in wet tropical forests from Cretaceous Burmese amber”. Scientific reports, 8(1), 8770.

[sciencespies]

The Top Ten Dinosaur Discoveries of 2020

https://sciencespies.com/nature/the-top-ten-dinosaur-discoveries-of-2020/

The Top Ten Dinosaur Discoveries of 2020

There’s never been a better time to be a dinosaur fan. Even in a year where fossil explorations have been curtailed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, paleontologists have dug deep to describe dozens of new species and unlock new secrets about our favorite prehistoric creatures. The discoveries continue even now, with the fluffy “maned” dinosaur Ubirajara named just last weekend. As we anticipate what the fossil record might reveal in 2021, here’s a look back at ten dinosaur discoveries that surprised and enthralled dinosaur enthusiasts this year.

Tiny Fuzzball Shows How Dinosaurs Started Small

Life restoration of Kongonaphon kely, a newly described reptile near the ancestry of dinosaurs and pterosaurs

(Illustration by Alex Boersma)

Some of the key traits that allowed dinosaurs to be such an evolutionary success story—from fuzzy feathers to warm-running metabolisms—may have first evolved in their tiny ancestors. This year experts reported the discovery of a tiny reptile from the Triassic of Madagascar they named Kongonaphon. While not a dinosaur itself, this animal was close to the ancestors of both dinosaurs and related flying reptiles called pterosaurs. This small, insect-eating reptile likely moved nimbly to catch lunch and may have sported a coat of fuzz to help regulate its body temperature. This hints that some key dinosaur traits, such as warm-bloodedness and insulating body coverings, evolved early in their history and were elaborated upon as dinosaurs eventually diversified into all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Winner By a Tail

Spinosaurus used its tail to swim

(Gustavo Monroy-Becerril CC BY-SA 4.0 )

Paleontologists have long suspected that the giant carnivore Spinosaurus spent much of its time around the water. Fossils reported in 2015 went a step further—flat feet and dense bones indicated that Spinosaurus spent a great deal of time in the water and is the first known semi-aquatic dinosaur. This year, a tail added another clue. The appendage, found at the same quarry as the 2015 skeleton, is long and deep. The tail is more like a paddle than what’s seen in other carnivorous dinosaurs and would have been suited to swishy, side-to-side motions that propelled Spinosaurus through the water. The fact that the tail goes with the other fossils found at the site also confirm that they all go to one individual, underscoring the fact that Spinosaurus had strange body proportions unlike any other dinosaur yet discovered.

Dinosaurs Suffered From Cancer, Too

A Centrosaurus skeleton in the mass dearth assemblage at the Royal Tyrrell Museum

(Riley Black)

Dinosaurs are often celebrated for being big, fierce and tough. The truth, however, is that they suffered from many of the same injuries and maladies that humans do. A study published this year in The Lancet reported on the first well-documented case of malignant bone cancer in a non-avian dinosaur. The animal, a horned dinosaur known to experts as Centrosaurus, probably coped with declining health before its eventual death in a coastal flood that caught its herd off-guard.

Dinosaurs Weren’t in Decline When the Asteroid Hit

A Tyrannosaurus rex holotype at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History

(ScottRobertAnselmo CC BY-SA 3.0)

If dinosaurs “ruled the Earth” for millions of years, why were they hit so hard by the mass extinction of 66 million years ago? Paleontologists have been puzzling over this question for decades, and, some have suggested, dinosaurs might have already been dying back by time the asteroid struck. But an increasing amount of evidence contracts that view, including a study published this year in Royal Society Open Science. The researchers looked at different evolutionary trees for what dinosaurs were around during the end of the Cretaceous to track whether dinosaurs were dying out, thriving or staying the same. After sifting through the data, the paleontologists didn’t find any sign that dinosaurs were declining before the asteroid strike. In fact, dinosaurs seemed perfectly capable of evolving new species. If the asteroid had missed, the Age of Dinosaurs would have continued for a very long time.

Taking a Long Swim

Researchers found the remains of a duckbilled dinosaur in Morocco.

(Raul Martin)

Sometimes dinosaurs show up where we don’t expect them. While paleontologists have found numerous fossils of duckbilled dinosaurs at spots around the world—from North America to Antarctica—no one had ever found one in Africa. That changed this year. In a Cretaceous Research study, paleontologists described a new species of hadrosaur found in Morocco. Named Ajnabia, the dinosaur lived at the end of the Cretaceous during a time when Africa was separated from other continents by deep water channels. Swimming would have been the only way for the dinosaur to reach prehistoric Africa from Europe or Asia, reinforcing the idea that exceptional events can help species move between distant continents.

Baby Titans Had Tiny Horns

A titanosaur embryo was discovered perfectly preserved inside its egg.

(University of Manchester)

Baby dinosaurs are exceptionally rare. We know far more about the adults of most species than how they started life. And when we do find those babies, they often hold surprises. An embryo of a long-necked dinosaur called a titanosaur reported in Current Biology drew attention this year for a strange, rhino-like horn jutting from its face. No such structure has been found in adult titanosaurs, and so it seems the horn is a kind of a temporary “egg tooth” that the dinosaur would have used to crack out of its shell.

Were Dinosaur Eggs Soft?

Protoceratops laid leathery eggs.

(AntoninJury CC BY-SA 4.0)

Think of a dinosaur egg and you’re likely to envision something out of Jurassic Park—a hard-shelled capsule the baby dinosaur has to kick or push its way out of. But research published this year in Nature proposes that many dinosaurs laid soft-shelled eggs. Under close examination, the eggs of the dinosaurs Protoceratops and Mussaurus turned out to be more like the leathery eggs of turtles than the thick, hard-shelled eggs known from other dinosaurs. This may indicate that dinosaur eggs started off soft and only later evolved to be hard-shelled in some groups. The findings may often indicate why eggs have been so hard to find for many dinosaur species, as softer eggs would decay more readily than hard-shelled ones.

Enter the Wonderchicken

Artist’s reconstruction of the world’s oldest modern bird, Asteriornis maastrichtensis, in its original environment

(Phillip Krzeminski)

Not all this year’s big dinosaur discoveries had to do with non-avian dinosaurs. A fossil dubbed the “wonderchicken” in Nature has helped paleontologists understand how modern birds took off during the Age of Dinosaurs. While birds go back to about 150 million years ago, the wonderchicken—or Asteriornis—lived about 67 million years ago and is the oldest known representative of what biologists think of as modern birds. The fossil, which includes a skull, has some anatomical similarities to chickens and ducks. These findings indicate that modern birds started to evolve and proliferate prior to the mass extinction that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs. If such beaked, seed-eating birds had not evolved, dinosaurs might have been entirely wiped out instead of leaving birds behind.

The Hunt for Dino DNA

Hypacrosaurus was a 70 million-year-old hadrosaur.

(Riley Black)

Will DNA from the likes of Tyrannosaurus ever be found? The consensus has been “No,” as DNA decays too fast after death to survive millions and millions of years. But in a study published in National Science Review this year, researchers have proposed that they’ve found chemical signatures consistent with DNA in the bones of a 70 million-year-old hadrosaur called Hypacrosaurus. The results have yet to be expanded upon or verified, but the idea that even degraded DNA from non-avian dinosaurs might survive is tantalizing for all such a discovery might teach us about prehistoric life.

Polar Dinosaurs Remained Year Round

A fossil jawbone found in Alaska offers evidence that some dinosaurs stayed in polar habitats year-round.

(Andrey Atuchin)

Ever since paleontologists discovered dinosaur bones within the ancient Arctic Circle, experts have debated whether the polar dinosaurs stayed in their cool habitats year-round or migrated with the seasons. A tiny jaw from a young dinosaur now answers that question. Described in PLOS ONE, the fossil belonged to a young raptor-like dinosaur that lived in an ancient Alaskan habitat marked by harsh seasonal shifts and long, dark winters. That dinosaurs were nesting and hatching babies in these habitats indicates that they were capable of surviving the harsh winters, even when it snowed.

#Nature