Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
354 / Mesozoic
Triadobatrachus
Triadobatrachus massinoti
It had a broad head and shortened trunk but lacked the full jumping machinery of modern frogs.
View original image · 1600 × 1067- Time range
- About 250 million years ago
- Final stage
- Early Triassic
- Geographic range
- Seasonal wetlands · Madagascar
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Triadobatrachus?
Triadobatrachus (Triadobatrachus massinoti) was an extinct organism known from About 250 million years ago, with a range in Seasonal wetlands · Madagascar.
Life and ecology
This stem-frog retained extra vertebrae and a short tail while beginning to reinforce the pelvis and hind limbs.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Triadobatrachus disappear?
More specialized early frogs appeared later, but a younger fauna does not by itself show that they replaced this transitional form.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Triadobatrachus?
A few near-complete skeletons preserve the skull, spine and girdles central to frog origins.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Rewrote an extinction cause that presented environmental or faunal turnover as established; it is now given as context the record does not prove.
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS