Судлаачид Триасын галавын үед амьдарч байсан, зөөлөн эдийн ул мөр бүхий ховор олдворыг шинжлэх ухааны эргэлтэд орууллаа.
Австралийн нэгэн иргэн 1990-ээд онд ойролцоох карьераас чулуу зөөж цэцэрлэгийнхээ хашааг барих явцад энэхүү ховор олдвор илэрчээ. Хожим нь Сиднейн Australian Museum-д хандивласан уг чулуунаас 240 сая жилийн тэртээ амьдарч байсан, урьд өмнө бүртгэгдээгүй амфиби төрлийн махчин амьтны бараг бүтэн яс олдсон байна.
UNSW Sydney болон Australian Museum-ийн судлаачид уг амьтныг Arenaerpeton supinatus хэмээн нэрлэж, албан ёсоор тодорхойлжээ. Ойролцоогоор 1.2 метр урттай энэ амьтан нь үлэг гүрвэлүүдийн өмнөх болон тухайн үед амьдарч байсан temnospondyls хэмээх амфибийн бүлэгт хамаардаг байна.
Олдворын хамгийн онцгой тал нь яс төдийгүй арьсны ул мөр зэрэг зөөлөн эдийн дүрсүүд маш сайн хадгалагдан үлдсэнд оршино. Палеонтологич Лахлан Харт болон түүний багийнхан толгой ба биеийн яс хоорондоо холбоотой, зөөлөн эдийн ул мөр бүхий ийм бүрэн бүтэн олдвор нь эртний амфибийн биологийн онцлогийг судлахад үнэлж баршгүй ач холбогдолтойг онцолжээ.
Судалгаагаар энэхүү махчин амьтан нь одоогийн Сиднейн сав газарт төвлөрсөн цэнгэг усны экосистемд амьдарч, загасаар хооллодог байсныг тогтоосон байна. Аманд нь байрлах соёо мэт шүд болон хавирганы бүтэц нь түүнийг орчин үеийн аварга гүрвэлүүдээс илүү хүнд жинтэй, хүчирхэг махчин байсныг илтгэж байна. Энэхүү олдвор нь сүүлийн 30 жилд Шинэ Өмнөд Уэльс мужид олдсон хамгийн чухал олдворуудын нэгд тооцогдож байгаа юм.
Дэлгэрэнгүйг эх сурвалжаас харах
↓Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
A fossil discovered inside a garden retaining wall in Australia has revealed a previously unknown Triassic amphibian that lived around 240 million years ago. The almost complete skeleton of Arenaerpeton supinatus, including rare traces of preserved skin, reveals a large freshwater predator measuring about 1.2 meters long.
The discovery traces back to the 1990s, when a retired chicken farmer collected rocks from a nearby quarry to build a retaining wall. One of those stones contained the fossil, which was later donated to the Australian Museum in Sydney.
Researchers from UNSW Sydney and the Australian Museum have now formally identified and described the animal. The discovery provides new insight into temnospondyls, an extinct group of amphibians that lived before and during the age of dinosaurs.
The fossil’s exceptional preservation makes it a rare scientific record. The specimen retains much of the skeleton and even impressions of soft tissue.
Ancient Amphibian Found With Rare Skin Traces
The fossil of Arenaerpeton supinatus stands out because of the amount of anatomical detail preserved within the rock. Paleontologist Lachlan Hart, affiliated with UNSW Science and the Australian Museum, explained that the specimen contains almost the entire skeleton along with faint outlines of the animal’s skin.
The preservation of both the head and body in connection is uncommon among fossils from this group. The research team noted that soft tissue impressions are even rarer, making the discovery particularly valuable for studying the appearance and biology of ancient amphibians.
The newly named species belongs to the temnospondyls, a group of amphibians that existed for millions of years before disappearing. The fossil provides evidence of a large-bodied member of this group living in freshwater environments during the Triassic period.
The species name, Arenaerpeton supinatus, means “supine sand creeper,” reflecting the scientific description given to this ancient animal.
This Heavy-Bodied Predator Dominated Ancient Rivers
Arenaerpeton lived in freshwater ecosystems within what is now the Sydney Basin, around 240 million years ago. The animal likely fed on ancient fish, including Cleithrolepis, which lived in the same environment. The shape of its head gives it a superficial resemblance to the modern Chinese Giant Salamander. However, the fossil reveals several differences between the extinct amphibian and its living relatives.
In his study, Hart stated that the size of the ribs and the preserved soft tissue outline indicate that it had a much heavier body than modern giant salamanders. The animal also possessed powerful teeth, including a pair of fang-like tusks on the roof of its mouth.
These anatomical features suggest a predator adapted to capturing prey in ancient waterways. Scientists have identified some details about its diet, although information about the other animals sharing its habitat remains limited.
A Lost Piece Of Australia’s Past
Its estimated size is around 1.2 meters from head to tail, makes it unusually large compared with many related amphibians from the same period. The research team also highlighted that later temnospondyls continued to exist in Australia for another 120 million years, with some species growing even larger.
Dr. Matthew McCurry, Senior Lecturer at UNSW’s School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Curator of Palaeontology at the Australian Museum, said that:
“This is one of the most important fossils found in New South Wales in the past 30 years, so it is exciting to formally describe it.” He added that; “It represents a key part of Australia’s fossil heritage.”
Enjoyed this article? Subscribe to our free newsletter for engaging stories, exclusive content, and the latest news.
