A team of scientists found this fossil preserved in a sandstone slab.
Monday, 04 Nov 2024 21:02:52 ancient tadpole (©Gabriel Lío)
A team of Argentinian and Chinese scientists discovered giant ancient tadpole fossils while excavating in Patagonia, Argentina.
Fossilized parts of the giant tadpole’s skull and spine are preserved in a sandstone slab in Argentina. This amphibian fossil is 161 million years old and is the oldest tadpole fossil ever found.
Anyone else asking too?
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What is the oldest tadpole fossil found? Scientists in Argentina have discovered the oldest and most well-preserved tadpole fossil. This fossil represents the larval stage of a large species of frog that lived around 161 million years ago, living alongside dinosaurs in the Jurassic Period.
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Where are tadpole fossils found? The fossil was discovered in 2020 during an excavation of dinosaur remains on a ranch in Santa Cruz province, about 2,300 kilometers (1,429 miles) south of Buenos Aires, in Argentina’s vast southern Patagonia region.
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When did the tadpole fossil live? This fossil represents the larval stage of a large species of frog that lived around 161 million years ago, living alongside dinosaurs in the Jurassic Period.
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What ancient animal fossils were found? The fossil is thought to be a species from the cestoda class, also known as tapeworms.
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Who discovered ancient human skeletons? In 1911, miners looking for fertilizer raw materials stepped on a strange object in a cave near Lovelock, Nevada.
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When was this ancient stone discovered? In recent excavations at Yeşilova Hoyuk, Bornova district, İzmir, Türkiye, stones were found to be 8,000 years old.
Reporting from the Smithsonian page on (4/10), paleontologists found hundreds of adult specimens of basal ghost frogs, which are among the ancestors of frogs and toads.
“After several days of digging, one of the team members found a rock with certain traces on it, and it was a tadpole fossil,” said Mariana Chuliver, a biologist at Maimónides University in Argentina.
Completes the frog cycle
Chuliver said this find was not only the oldest known tadpole find but also a very beautifully preserved find, considering that tadpole bones are mostly made of cartilage and contain a lot of soft tissue.
Has no competitors
Reported on the Smithsonian page, this tadpole is about 16 centimeters long and is classified as a giant tadpole. Most tadpoles are smaller than adult frogs, but this one was the same length as one of the adult frogs.
He suspects the large size is likely caused by the tadpoles having no competitors in their seasonal pools. Young frogs have access to many food sources, which allows them to grow more.
The oldest frog ever found was from 217 years ago while the oldest tadpole ever found was from 140 million years ago.
This large distance has led scientists to speculate that the ancestors of frogs did not have tadpole stages and metamorphosis.
Thanks to these findings, scientists were able to complete the life cycle of frogs showing that they had a tadpole stage for at least 161 million years.
Intern Reporter: Elma Pinkan Yulianti
Giant Ancient Tadpoles: The Jurassic Swim Team of 161 Million Years Ago!
A team of scientists found this fossil preserved in a sandstone slab.
Published: Monday, 04 Nov 2024 21:02:52 – the kind of headline that makes you wonder what’s next. Strawberry jam found on Mars?
In a groundbreaking find, a team of Argentinian and Chinese scientists have successfully unearthed giant ancient tadpole fossils while rummaging through the tantalizingly historic sands of Patagonia, Argentina. You might be asking yourself, “Why should I care about giant tadpoles?” Well, sit tight as we leap into some slippery science!
This fossilized treasure represents a larval version of a large species of frog, lurking in the murky waters of the Jurassic period around 161 million years ago, allegedly sharing the waters with some of history’s most infamous reptiles. Yes, folks, it seems our little tadpole friends were living the good life alongside dinosaurs. Talk about a party!
What’s the Big Deal?
Tadpoles are often considered the underdogs of their amphibious cohorts, but this specific discovery—a skull and spine neatly preserved in a sandstone slab—is turning heads. This little relic of a whopping 161 million years is now officially the oldest tadpole fossil ever found. You could say, with a splash of cheek, that this tadpole is quite literally “older than your grandma’s house.”
- What is the oldest tadpole fossil found? It’s right here in Argentina, that’s what! This fossil represents the larval phase of a prehistoric frog species, timelessly preserved for our curiosity.
- Where are tadpole fossils found? It was unearthed during an excavation for dinosaur remains in Santa Cruz province—meaning this tadpole was partying where some serious reptiles roamed.
- When did the tadpole fossil live? Reflecting back 161 million years in the Jurassic era, sharing water with its dinosaurian cousins—how refreshing!
- What ancient animal fossils were found? It’s reported that other fascinating finds included critters from the cestoda class, also known to you and I as tapeworms. Because nothing quite says “Jurassic” like some ancient parasites!
- Who discovered ancient human skeletons? Spoiler alert! Not related to our tadpole tale, but credit goes to some miners in 1911 who had quite the luck on their fertilizer hunt.
- When was this ancient stone discovered? Even older stones are popping up, like the ones unearthed during recent excavations in Türkiye, dating back 8,000 years, but they barely hold a candle compared to our amphibious superstar!
Scientific Shenanigans
According to Mariana Chuliver, a biologist at Maimónides University in Argentina, the team struck gold after several days of digging. Imagine finding a tadpole fossil and thinking, “Great, now I can finally win the dinner table science arguments!”
The Tadpole that Time Forgot
This particular tadpole, measuring a considerable 16 centimeters long, defied expectations since most tadpoles tend to be much smaller than the adult counterparts. This big boy’s size could be attributed to a lack of competition in their seasonal pools—clearly the ultimate “all you can eat” buffet.
What’s even more fascinating? The oldest frog found to date is around 217 million years ago—meaning our current understanding of their lifecycle has only recently been enriched, suggesting that our froggy friends didn’t always go through the whole tadpole phase. Talk about an evolutionary curveball!
Thanks to this monumental find, scientists have filled a significant gap in the frog family tree, confirming that tadpoles have been part of the lifecycle for at least 161 million years. So the next time you spot a tadpole, know you’re witnessing a tradition older than many empires!
Intern Reporter: Elma Pinkan Yulianti—the unsung hero of this amphibian saga!
which sources would preserve the soft tissues of an early mammal? check all that apply.
All finds are about amphibians! In 1911, miners in Nevada stumbled upon ancient human skeletons while seeking fertilizer materials in a nearby cave, unveiling yet another mystery of our past.
In the midst of these historical nuggets, the Smithsonian reports that paleontologists have recognized a plethora of adult specimens from basal ghost frogs—those little green entertainers that showcase the evolutionary path of modern frogs and toads. Mariana Chuliver, a biologist at Maimónides University in Argentina, shared that the preserved tadpole find holds a particular allure—it is the oldest known tadpole yet and boasts remarkable preservation, considering most tadpole skeletons are cartilage-based and exhibit a high degree of soft tissue. At approximately 16 centimeters in length, this giant tadpole stands out in a world where most tadpoles are dwarfed by their adult frog counterparts. Chuliver posits that the tadpole’s sizeable stature owes itself to a lack of competitive peers in their favored seasonal pools. With ample food sources around, young frogs were given the green light (or perhaps a “tadpole go-ahead”) to grow larger without the typical constraints found in modern ecosystems. Interestingly, the oldest known frog dates back a mere 217 million years, highlighting that tadpoles, as we know them, had a surprisingly late appearance in the evolutionary timeline. This massive temporal gap suggests that ancestors of today’s frogs might have skipped the tadpole stage entirely and metamorphosed into adult forms from egg to frog directly. Thanks to this captivating discovery, scientists are piecing together the puzzle of life cycles from ages past, demonstrating that tadpole stages have been part of the evolutionary narrative for at least 161 million years. What a leap forward for paleontological sciences! Intern Reporter: Elma Pinkan YuliantiMore than Meets the Eye
