An artist’s impression of Arenaelpeton Spinatus, ancestor of today’s Chinese giant salamander.Credit: Jose Vitor Silva
Arenaerpeton supinatus was found in rocks cut from a nearby quarry to build garden walls.
A 240-million-year-old amphibian fossil was found in a retaining wall in the 1990s. This important discovery was formally named and explained by scientists from the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) and the Australian Museum.
The fossil was originally discovered in the rocks of a local quarry by a retired poultry farmer. These rocks were intended to be used in the construction of garden retaining walls, after which the fossils were donated to the Australian Museum in Sydney.
Description of Arenaerpeton supinatus
Paleontologist Lachlan Hart, who works with UNSW Science and the Australian Museum, said the fossil was ” arenaelpeton spinatuswhich means “supine Snackreeper,” shows an almost complete skeleton and, surprisingly, skin contours.
![Fossil of Arenaelpeton](https://scitechdaily.com/images/Arenaerpeton-supinatus-Fossil-777x518.jpg 777w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Arenaerpeton-supinatus-Fossil-400x267.jpg 400w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Arenaerpeton-supinatus-Fossil-768x512.jpg 768w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Arenaerpeton-supinatus-Fossil-1536x1023.jpg 1536w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Arenaerpeton-supinatus-Fossil.jpg 1600w)
Arena elpeton closely resembles the modern Chinese giant salamander.Credit: UNSW Sydney/Richard Freeman
“This fossil is a unique example of an extinct group of animals known as the Temnospondile that lived before and during the time of the dinosaurs,” said Hart, Ph.D. Candidate in the School of Biogeo-Environmental Sciences (BEES). says Mr. in New South Wales.
“Skulls with head and torso attached are rarely found, and soft tissue preservation is even rarer.”
habitat and appearance
Arena elpeton lived in freshwater rivers in the area now known as the Sydney Basin in BC. Triassic Period, 240 million years ago. Hart says it most likely hunted other ancient fish. craith rolepisbut aside from that, there isn’t much evidence to tell us about other animals. Arena El Peton We shared land and water.
![Lachlan Hart](https://scitechdaily.com/images/Lachlan-Hart-777x518.jpg 777w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Lachlan-Hart-400x267.jpg 400w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Lachlan-Hart-768x512.jpg 768w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Lachlan-Hart-1536x1023.jpg 1536w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Lachlan-Hart.jpg 1600w)
Lachlan-Hart says the fossil is a unique example of an extinct group of animals known as the Temnospondirs that lived before and during the age of the dinosaurs.Credit: UNSW Sydney/Richard Freeman
“On the surface, Arena El Peton It looks a lot like a modern Chinese giant salamander, especially the head shape,” Hart says.
“However, the size and soft-tissue profiles of the ribs preserved in the fossils indicate that it was considerably heavier than its living progeny. Also, the pair of tusk-like tusks above its mouth, etc. I also had some pretty nasty teeth.”
Importance of Discovery
What’s interesting about this finding, Hart said, is that Arena El Peton It is estimated to be about 1.2 meters from head to tail when most of its other relatives that lived at the same time were small.
“The last hand vertebrates were in Australia 120 million years later” Arena El Peton, and some have grown to gigantic sizes. The fossil record of Temnospondyl spans two of her mass extinctions, so perhaps this evolutionary increase in size aided their longevity. ”
Dr Matthew McQuarrie, Senior Lecturer in Apiidae, New South Wales and Curator of Paleontology at the Australian Museum, said the fossil was an important discovery in Australia’s paleohistory.
“This is one of the most important fossils discovered in New South Wales in the last 30 years, so we are excited to formally explain it,” said a co-author of the study. Dr. McQuarrie also says. “This represents an important part of Australia’s fossil heritage.”
This research recently Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology Later this year, the fossil will be on display at the Australian Museum in Sydney.
References: “A new Chigtisauridae (Brachiopoididae, Temnospondilli) with preserved soft tissue from the Triassic Sydney Basin, New South Wales, Australia.” Lachlan J. Hart, Brian M. Gee, By Patrick M. Smith, Matthew R. McCurry, 3 Aug 2023, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2023.2232829