
Jurassic Tadpole Fossil Unearthed in Argentina Sets New Record
A 160-million-year-old tadpole fossil, discovered in Argentina, has set a new record as the oldest known tadpole, belonging to the ancient frog species Notobatrachus degiustoi. This find pushes the evidence of tadpole metamorphosis back by 15 million years and provides insights into the early evolution of the anuran life cycle. The fossil's preservation reveals key features of modern tadpoles, such as the filter-feeding system, indicating that tadpole gigantism existed among stem-anurans. The research, led by Mariana Chuliver, was published in Nature.

