in exploration While studying fossils in the rural town of Rosario do Sul, researchers from the Federal University of Pampa (Unipampa) made a surprising discovery.
They discovered a well-preserved skull of a prehistoric amphibian, whose existence dates back to the period before the age of dinosaurs.
Amphibians, now known as Coatisuchus rosaeIt reveals an era when crocodile-like giants dominated terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
Digital representation of amphibians – Image: Marcio Castro/Reproduction
A delicate process reveals a new species
The skull, which was discovered during meticulous excavations in August 2022, underwent an extensive cleaning process to remove rock remains, allowing detailed analysis by experts.
Name the species as Coatisuchus rosae It pays tribute to Dr. Attila Stock da Rosa, of the Federal University of Santa Maria, a paleontologist famous for his contribution to the identification of fossil-rich sites.
The name “Kwati” is inspired by the language Toby The “long snout” reflects the animal's distinctive shape, similar to modern crocodiles.
Characteristics and survival of the giant
Hey Coatisuchus rosae, a representative of temnospondyls, challenges the idea of size when it comes to amphibians. This giant animal, estimated to be 1.5 meters long, illustrates the wide range of life forms that inhabited the Earth.
Temnospondyllis are generally distinguished by their diversity and size, with some reaching up to 5 meters in length.
The group was mostly carnivorous, inhabiting aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and was Coatsucks This was no exception, adapting to a world transformed by the largest known mass extinction, said Felipe Pinheiro, research coordinator.
Antecedents that shape current understanding
The discovery of this amphibian in Brazil and the identification of its closest relatives in Russia indicate the existence of transcontinental animal contact at the time when the Earth formed the supercontinent Pangea.
This fact indicates that despite geographical barriers, there has been migration and spread of species between different regions of the planet.
This is not the first time that the soil of Rio Grande do Sul has revealed the secrets of ancient organisms. Earlier, the same research team announced its discovery Pampafonosthe oldest terrestrial predator in the South AmericaIt dates back to about 265 million years ago.
