Plagiobatrachus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plagiobatrachus |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | †Temnospondyli |
| Suborder: | †Stereospondyli |
| Family: | †Plagiosauridae |
| Genus: | †Plagiobatrachus Warren, 1985 |
| Type species | |
| † Plagiobatrachus australis Warren, 1985
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Plagiobatrachus was an ancient animal that lived a very long time ago and is now extinct, meaning it no longer exists. It belonged to a group of creatures called plagiosaurids, which were a type of temnospondyl. Temnospondyls were a diverse group of early amphibians, some of which looked a bit like crocodiles or giant salamanders. Plagiobatrachus lived during the Early Triassic period, about 250 million years ago, in what is now Australia. Its fossils have been found in a place called the Rewan Formation.
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Discovering Plagiobatrachus
Who Found It?
The first time Plagiobatrachus was officially described was in 1985. A scientist named Anne Warren studied its fossils and gave it its name. She also named its specific type, P. australis.
What Was Found?
Scientists found parts of Plagiobatrachus's backbone, which are called vertebrae. They also found pieces of its lower jaw, known as mandibular material. These jaw pieces had a bumpy, pimple-like surface, which scientists call pustular ornamentation.
Why Is It Special?
Plagiobatrachus is quite special for a few reasons:
- It's the only plagiosaurid ever found in Australia.
- It's one of the very few records of plagiosaurids from the southern half of the world.
- It's also one of the rare examples of plagiosaurids from the Early Triassic period. Most others are found from later times.
How Do We Know It's a Plagiosaurid?
The backbone bones (vertebrae) of plagiosaurids are very unique. They have a single, large central part. The upper parts of the backbone, called neural arches, fit between these central pieces. This special arrangement helps scientists identify these fossils as belonging to a plagiosaurid.
Challenges in Study
Even though the backbone parts are unique, the fossils of Plagiobatrachus are very broken and incomplete. Scientists haven't found many other parts of this animal. Because of this, it has been hard to learn more about Plagiobatrachus and how it lived.
