Interesting Discovery

First known amphibian that lived in the sea found in China

Two nearly complete fossil skeletons found in southwest China show that an armored amphibian lived in prehistoric salt water about 237 million years ago. The researchers named the new species Gerrothorax maritimus and reported this on October 26 in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. Of the more than 8,000 amphibian species living on Earth today, none lives in a marine environment, and only 2 percent tolerate salt to any extent. Scientists believe its unique structure and bony armor prevented water from being absorbed through the skin, while salt was filtered out through the gills. The animal, about 30 inches long, was presumably flat and lived on the bottom. Steve Brusatte, a paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh who was not involved in the study, called the find potentially revolutionary.

Not covered in Armenian media (checked 30 October)