Peer-reviewed scientific journals and conferences

Massive 161-Million-Year-Old Tadpole Fossil Discovered in Argentina

Oct 30, 2024, 05:51 PM

Scientists have discovered the oldest-known fossil of a giant tadpole in Argentina, dating back 161 million years. This massive fossil surpasses the previous ancient record holder by about 20 million years and provides new insights into the evolution of amphibians. The tadpole, which was wriggling around over 160 million years ago, is several times the size of most modern tadpoles, indicating significant evolutionary changes. Additionally, researchers have found an extremely rare arthropod fossil preserved in fool's gold, which offers a detailed look at ancient Earth life from 450 million years ago. This fossil, encased in iron pyrite, shows soft tissues and a 'great appendage,' contributing valuable information to the study of ancient life forms.