Knowra Triadobatrachus Triadobatrachus Triadobatrachus is an extinct amphibian genus from Early Triassic Madagascar, known from a skeleton that combines primitive features with traits associated with frogs. It is an early stem relative of modern frogs, not a true frog.
Lissamphibia : Lissamphibia is the living amphibian group comprising frogs, salamanders, and caecilians. Triadobatrachus lies near the ancestry of frogs within the wider amphibian story.
Sacral vertebra : A sacral vertebra is a vertebra associated with attachment of the pelvis to the backbone. The single sacral vertebra anchors the pelvis, while the long trunk retains an older body plan.
Early Triassic : The Early Triassic is the first epoch of the Triassic Period, spanning roughly 252 to 247 million years ago. Triadobatrachus lived during this early interval after the Permian mass extinction.
MNHN MAE 126 : MNHN MAE 126 is the holotype fossil specimen of Triadobatrachus massinoti. This partial skeleton is the principal evidence for the genus's anatomy and classification.
Anura : Anura is the amphibian order comprising frogs and toads, characterized by adults without tails. Its partial frog-like anatomy invites comparison with the group it predates.
Caudal vertebra : A caudal vertebra is a vertebra in the tail region of a backbone. Triadobatrachus retained a short tail region, unlike the tailless adult frog body.
Madagascar : Madagascar is a large island nation in the Indian Ocean, separated from Africa and India through geological history. The genus is known from deposits on this island.
Triadobatrachus massinoti : Triadobatrachus massinoti is the type species and only named species of the genus Triadobatrachus. The genus is founded on this species, known from the holotype skeleton.
Tetrapod : A tetrapod is a vertebrate belonging to the lineage of four-limbed animals and their descendants. As a four-limbed vertebrate, Triadobatrachus belongs within this much broader lineage.
Hindlimb : A hindlimb is a paired rear limb used for support and, in many animals, locomotion. Its hindlimbs were developed, but not yet the specialized leaping limbs of many modern frogs.
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