Scientists have unearthed fossils in China of a bizarre, heavily armored amphibian that lived 237 million years ago, offering rare insight into a creature that may have been the first known amphibian to adopt a fully marine existence. The giant salamander-sized animal, described from newly discovered remains, challenges long-held assumptions about amphibian physiology, as modern amphibians cannot survive entirely in saltwater. Researchers say the fossil evidence points to a species that had adapted to life in the ocean at a time when marine ecosystems were recovering from the end-Permian mass extinction.
The discovery adds a significant chapter to the evolutionary history of amphibians, a group today confined largely to freshwater and terrestrial habitats. According to the research team, the animal's heavy armor and anatomical features suggest it was well suited to a marine environment, though questions remain about how it managed salt regulation and reproduction. The findings, published in a peer-reviewed journal, are expected to prompt further study of early amphibian diversity and the boundary between freshwater and marine life in the Triassic period.
Independent reporting synthesized from primary wires and global correspondents.