Paleontologists discover ancient armored amphibian from prehistoric China

Paleontologists described a prehistoric predator named Gerrothorax maritimus that lived in ancient seas in what is now China 237 million years ago.

The researchers published their findings in the journal Nature, identifying a creature that resembled an armored newt and lived on the ocean floor. The creature measured about three-quarters of a meter long and used a massive mouth to suck in prey. Researchers believe this animal represents the first amphibian to adapt to life in saltwater.

While modern amphibians generally cannot survive in salt water due to their permeable skin, Gerrothorax maritimus possessed a protective shell. This armor shielded its sensitive skin from salt and provided stability on the seabed. The discovery came from two skeletons found in southwestern China. Scientists used strontium isotope ratios to confirm that the bones grew in the sea rather than being washed into the ocean after death.

Because the creature's soft tissues did not survive, researchers do not know if it possessed other adaptations for saltwater survival. They hope to find more fossils to clarify its biology.