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Albionbatrachus
Extinct genus of frogs From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Albionbatrachus is an extinct genus of frogs from England and Romania, that spanned to the Eocene to Miocene. Two species are recognized:[1][2]
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Discovery and Naming
Discovery
A.wightensis was discovered near Alum Bay, Isle of Wright, while A.oligocenicus was found in the Dancu formation.[3][4] The holotype of A.wightensis MCZ 8784 consists of an almost complete frontoparietal bone, and the holotype of A,oligocenicus consists of nearly complete frontoparietal bones.[3][4]
Etymology
The genus name combines Albion which is Latin for England and batrachus meaning frog in Greek.[4][5] The species name for A.wightensis which refers the area of discovery being the Isle of Wright, and for A.oligocenicus refers to the greek name for Oligocene..[4][3]
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Description
The main distinguishing factor is its frontopaterial bone having an hourglass shape, other features include the frontopaterial being flat and ornamented, paroccipital processes extending past the posterior median process and the middle layer containing large cavities and the large cavities being connected to the frontopaterial by inclined canals.[2][3]
A.wightensis
A.wightensis has prominent lateral corners which form spurlike processes, and has a synsacrum.[4]
A.oligocenicus
A.oligocenicus differs from A.wightensis from a lack of dorsal anterior depression, less pronounced dorsal sculptures, lower occipital ridge, paraoccpital processes being more elevated dorsally, the back section of Meckel's cartilage being ossified, and a small tubercle on the preacetabular portion of the ilium.
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Paleoecology
The presence of a synsacrum indicates an aquatic lifestyle, and might have made a niche in low oxygen environments, and if the cavities were used relive CO2, that might suggest more terrestrial adaptations.[2][3][4]
See also
References
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