- Paleontologists at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History have discovered a 270-million-year-old prehistoric amphibian called Kermitops gratus, a previously unknown species with wide eyes and a cartoonish smile.
- Kermitops may provide some clues about the evolution of modern amphibians and contribute to a better understanding of the fossil record.
- This discovery suggests that examining museum collections could potentially lead to changes in evolutionary hypotheses.
Paleontologists from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History have uncovered a new prehistoric species, a 270-million-year-old amphibian called Kermitops gratus, reminiscent of the iconic Kermit the Muppet Frog. This ancient creature, which predated dinosaurs, was discovered in Texas and is believed to have lived during the Early Permian Period. The fossilized skull, about 2.5 centimeters long, has large oval eye sockets and a Kermit-like smile.
Kermitops is not classified as a frog, but is included in the temnospondyls group, which is considered the common ancestor of modern amphibians. The discovery provides insight into the evolution of frogs and salamanders. The skull shares some features with modern amphibians, such as the location of the eardrum and sticky nostrils that produce mucus.
The fossil’s features suggest a complex evolutionary history of amphibians, with unique features such as bipedal, stalked teeth. For example, its robust skull and long snout adapted for catching insects distinguish it from its modern relatives. Kermitops contributes to the understanding of the diverse Early Permian fauna and the evolutionary tree of amphibians.
The discovery underscores the need for more fossils to better understand amphibian evolution and underscores the importance of examining museum collections for overlooked specimens. These creatures’ small size and delicate bones make the fossil record fragmentary and underscore the importance of each discovery in reshaping evolutionary knowledge.
The name Kermitops aims to highlight the value of studying small, often overlooked fossils in museum collections and to illustrate the diverse history of life on Earth beyond well-known dinosaurs.
Compiled by: Eliz Canyurt