Biology:Electrorana limoae
| Electrorana limoae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | Anura
|
| Superfamily: | Alytoidea?
|
| Genus: | †Electrorana
|
| Species: | †E. limoae
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Electrorana limoae Xing et al., 2018
| |
Electrorana limoae is an extinct species of frog that lived in the Myanmar in the Cenomanian (Upper Cretaceous) forests, 99 million years ago.[1]
History of the discovery
A very well-preserved specimen of Electrorana was found in Myanmar inside a fragment of amber dating back to the Cretaceous period. This is an important finding because the amphibians were found in particular in the tropical forests, whose humid environment prevented fossilization. Together with the frog, a beetle was also found, possibly prey of the amphibian.
Description
The dimensions of this amphibian are reduced, about two centimeters. Although it is not complete (it is absent part of the spine and a hind leg)[2] and conservation shows a slight initial decomposition, the specimen is very useful in the scientific field because the skeletal structure is visible even to the naked eye.[3]
Links with current species
It has been hypothesized that Electrorana may show genetic links with living species, in particular with Alytes obstetricans.[citation needed]
References
- ↑ Lida Xing; Edward L. Stanley; Ming Bai; David C. Blackburn (2018). "The earliest direct evidence of frogs in wet tropical forests from Cretaceous Burmese amber". Scientific Reports 8: Article number: 8770. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-26848-w. PMID 29904068.
- ↑ "Nell'ambra la più antica rana della foresta pluviale - Scienza & Tecnica". 14 June 2018. http://www.ansa.it/canale_scienza_tecnica/notizie/ragazzi/news/2018/06/14/nellambra-la-piu-antica-rana-della-foresta-pluviale-_ff5578f7-0a3e-464a-bf62-f43d930688ba.html. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
- ↑ "World's Oldest Rain Forest Frogs Found in Amber". 14 June 2018. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/06/oldest-frogs-fossils-amber-cretaceous-dinosaurs-science/. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
Wikidata ☰ Q55064390 entry
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