The oldest known frog with preserved soft tissues was discovered with a belly full of eggs according to a recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The fossil, named JQ-HX-QW-02, is a rare find as frog fossils with discernible soft tissues are scarce. The female frog was found to be gravid, or pregnant with eggs, and the sheer quantity of eggs indicates that she was not starving or hibernating at the time of death. The researchers suggest that the most likely cause of death for the frog was drowning or exhaustion related to mating, making it the first Mesozoic case of death linked to mating behavior.
The discovery provides valuable insight into the reproductive biology of ancient frogs. This finding is significant due to the difficulty in understanding the soft tissues of extinct frog species, as most frog fossils only preserve their skeletal body plan. The presence of preserved soft tissues in this fossil offers a rare opportunity for experts to study the biology of skin, inner organs, and other soft tissues of an ancient frog species.
In a related study last year, researchers revealed the existence of the world’s smallest fanged frog, known as Limnonectes phyllofolia. This tiny frog, measuring 1.2 inches (30 millimeters) from vent to snout, is indigenous to Sulawesi Island and has a pair of fang-like structures protruding from its lower jawbone. This discovery adds to the fascinating diversity of frog species found around the world.
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