Triadobatrachus
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Extinct (fossil)
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Triadobatrachus is an extinct genus of frog. It is about 10 cm (4 in) long and the oldest frog known to science.
Triadobatrachus still retained many primitive characteristics, such as more vertebrae (24) than modern frogs (5-9), including six tail vertebrae in adults. It probably swam with kicking movements of its hind legs, which would further develop into the powerful jumping legs seen in modern frogs. Triadobatrachus's skull resembled that of modern frogs, consisting of a latticework of thin bones separated by large openings. As evidenced by its large ear openings, Triadobatrachus possessed good hearing.
This creature, or a cousin, evolved eventually into modern frogs, the earliest example of which is sanyanlichan, millions of years later in the late Jurassic.
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