Name:
Triadobatrachus (Greek for "triple frog"); pronounced TREE-ah-doe-bah-TRACK-us
Habitat:
Swamps of Madagascar
Historical Period:
Early Triassic (250 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About 4 inches long and a few ounces
Diet:
Insects
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Small size; frog-like appearance
About Triadobatrachus:
Although older candidates may eventually be found, for now, Triadobatrachus is the earliest prehistoric amphibian known to have lived near the trunk of the frog and toad family tree. This small creature differed from modern frogs in the number of its vertebrae (fourteen, compared to half that for modern genera), some of which formed a short tail. Otherwise, though, Triadobatrachus would have presented a distinctly frog-like profile with its slimy skin and strong hind legs, which it probably used to kick rather than to jump.
