Abstract
ALBANERPETONTIDS are a group of enigmatic salamander-like fossil amphibians known from deposits of middle Jurassic to Miocene age across Euramerica and Central Asia. Throughout a long history they remained remarkably conservative but can be diagnosed by a suite of unique derived character states, including an anterior peg-and-socket joint between the mandibles, non-pedicellate tricuspate teeth, a distinctive polygonal dermal sculpture pattern, and a two-part craniovertebral joint analogous to that of amniotes. Previous interpretations have placed albanerpetontids within salamanders1, 2 or as a separate amphibian group3, 4. We report here on the recovery of the first complete albanerpetontid specimens (including traces of skin and possible male courtship glands) from the early Cretaceous of Spain. The new material supports the interpretation of albanerpetontids as predominantly terrestrial animals. Albanerpetontids resemble salamanders only in retaining an unspecialized tailed body form; cladistic analysis suggests they represent a distinct lissamphibian lineage.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Estes, R. Nature 224, 87–88 (1969).
Trueb, L. & Cloutier, R. in Origins of the Higher Groups of Tetrapods: Controversy and Consensus (eds Schultze, H.-P. & Trueb, L.) 223–313 (Cornell University Press, Ithaca and London, 1991).
Fox, R. & Naylor, B. Can. J. Earth Sci. 19, 118–128 (1982).
Milner, A. R. in The Phylogeny and Classification of the Tetrapods (ed. Benton, M. J.) 1, 59–102 (1988).
Estes, R. & Hoffstetter, R. Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris (Sci. Terr.) 57, 398–343 (1976).
Estes, R. in Handbuch der Paläoherpetologie (ed. Wellnhofer, P.) 2, (Gustav Fischer, Stuttgart, 1981).
Duellman, W. E. & Trueb, L. Biology of Amphibians (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1986).
Seiffert, J. Paläont. Zeitschr. 43, 32–36 (1969).
Nessov, L. Acta zool. Cracov 31, 475–486 (1988).
Estes, R. & Sanchiz, B. J. Vertebr. Palaeont. 2, 21–39 (1982).
Sanz, J. L. et al. Geobios 21, 611–635 (1988).
Sanz, J. L., Bonaparte, J. F. & Lacasa, A. Nature 331, 433–435 (1988).
Sanz, J. L. & Buscalioni, A. D. Palaeontology 35, 829–845 (1992).
Perez-Moreno, B. P. et al. Nature 370, 363–367 (1994).
Jenkins, F. A. & Walsh, D. M. Nature 365, 246–250 (1993).
Carroll, R. L. & Currie, P. J. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 57, 229–247 (1975).
Rage, J.-C. & Rocek, Z. Palaeontographica A 206, 1–16 (1989).
Evans, S. E., Milner, A. R. & Mussett, F. Geobios 21, 539–552 (1988).
Milner, A. R. Herpetological Monogr. 7, 8–27 (1993).
Boy, J. A. N. Jb. Geol. Paläont. Abh. 174, 75–104 (1987).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McGowan, G., Evans, S. Albanerpetontid amphibians from the Cretaceous of Spain. Nature 373, 143–145 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/373143a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/373143a0
This article is cited by
-
Mesozoic and Palaeocene lissamphibian assemblages of North America: a comprehensive review
Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments (2013)
-
Vertebrate-rich Plattenkalk of Pietraroia (Lower Cretaceous, Southern Apennines, Italy): a new model
Facies (2006)
-
An Early Cretaceous bird from Spain and its implications for the evolution of avian flight
Nature (1996)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
