Another new transitional fossil

[Mallon]

A new transitional fossil, spanning the gap between basal fossil amphibians and frogs/salamanders, was recently announced:

http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/may2008/Gerobatrachus

The Gerobatrachus fossil provides a much fuller understanding of the origin and evolution of modern amphibians. The skull, backbone and teeth of Gerobatrachus have a mixture of frog and salamander features—the fossil has two fused bones in the ankle, which is normally only seen in salamanders, and a very large tympanic ear (ear drum). It also has a lightly built and wide skull similar to that of a frog. Its backbone is exactly intermediate in number between the modern frogs and salamanders and more primitive amphibians.

 

[Tinker Grey]

Cool!

 

[shernren]

Oh, it's the University of Calgary again.

Hehe. ^^

On a random note, isn't the dragonfly depicted in the picture a tad small? Weren't they, like, massive in the day? I don't know. I'm clearly not thinking straight right now.