A group of fossils that have been discovered in Wyoming provides some of the best examples so far from ancient types of amphibians the size of a crocodile. But while fossil scientists describe samples as “wonderfully preserved”, the reason behind their fast death is still a mystery. The discovery was detailed in a study published on April 2 in the magazine Plos one.
Metoposaurid tenospondyls are some of the first ancestors of frogs today, frogs and sandal. The oldest known species in North America, Buettnerpeton BakeriIt was exclusively present on the continent during the Tryssi era about 230 million years ago. The four -legged squatting animal raises in fresh water ponds, rivers and lakes, as it feeds on anything that can be suitable for in his mouth.
“Like other mite, she may have spent most of her life, if not all, in fish, other amphibians, or anything unfortunate enough for adventure in water.” Popular science.
Beyond that, much is not known about him BuettnerPeton Because of the scarcity of excavations. But according to Lovelace and Kufner, this may change soon thanks to their excavation on the site of the old flood plains NoBby Knob in Dubois, Wyoming. There, fossil scientists found dozens of fossil BuettnerPeton Still – more than twice the total number of known samples. However, these amphibious fossils in the Triassic era have not accumulated for decades or centuries. Instead, they seem to have died during the mass death event.
“It was a local death as we see when rivers dried up, or when lakes have flows of nutrients that cause algae flowers, both of which can kill water life like fish,” Loving and Covener explained.
This evidence of death from others is highlighted by the rock in which it was found. The soil with microbeh and layers with layers indicate a low energy or a quiet sedimentation environment, which means that there are no strong currents. Thanks to this, many skeletons are largely intact and well preserved.
“There are some articulated bones that are almost absent in the family of other metopoosin bones in North America, and are completely unknown. BuettnerPetonThe excavation scholars said.
The new details include the discovery of articulated toothpicks that were included in the soft tissues BuettnerPetonMouth, as well as the unique way that formed other fossils.
“They all lack any evidence of calcium carbonate that would have been mostly [fossil] Shell … what appears to have happened is that the dissolved calcium carbonate after its burial, and that the outer organic layer (which helps prevent dandruff from melting in fresh water during life) left a impression as the mud turned into rocks and then lost later. “
According to the authors of the study, the collective burial was likely to be due BuettnerPeton Breeding colony, or a bound of drought -bound, which he focused on together before their death.
“This assembly is a snapshot of one residents instead of accumulating over time,” Kufner said in a separate statement.
The research team hopes that the excavation and the perceived analysis (studying and preserving the lively organism) will lead to future tests for the site. Additional studies may also increase our understanding BuettnerPeton And the environment in which she lived.
“Taphonomic studies are common today and more common than they were more than 50 years ago thanks to dozens if not hundreds of geologists and fossil scientists,” said Kufner and Lovelace said, adding, “There is still a lot to do!”
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