Cratopipa, a new frog genus

[Logo7]

A new genus of pipimorph frog, close relatives of modern frogs in the genus Pipidae (the genus including Suriname toads), from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil has been described and given the name Cratopipa novaolindensis ("Nova Olinda Crato Pipa"). The genus name originates from the Crato Formation where the new genus was found and the family Pipidae, which consists of clawed frogs and Suriname toads, while the species name originates from Nova Olinda, Ceará, the site where the fossil was discovered. This new genus suggests that pipimorph frogs spread between Africa and South America through an island chain or continental bridge across the Atlantic Ocean. Here is a reconstruction of the species by artist Deverson da Silva and the fossil specimen used to describe it, as well as a link to the paper describing the new genus.




Paper (abstract only): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0895981118305285?via%3Dihub

[Halichoeres]

Wow, that's a great specimen. Thanks for sharing!

[Ravonium]

Thanks for sharing. Now, I have to wonder: did the young of this genus emerge from eggs in the female's back? 

[Logo7]

Thanks for sharing. Now, I have to wonder: did the young of this genus emerge from eggs in the female's back? 

I doubt it. The reconstruction looks more like a clawed frog, which is also in the family Pipidae, but it could still be more like a Suriname toad in this regard. We may never know.

[Halichoeres]

Thanks for sharing. Now, I have to wonder: did the young of this genus emerge from eggs in the female's back? 

I doubt it. The reconstruction looks more like a clawed frog, which is also in the family Pipidae, but it could still be more like a Suriname toad in this regard. We may never know.

Ah, but a boy can dream, can't he? A boy can dream trypophobic nightmares.