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A recently identified type of early amphibian predecessor, which existed approximately 270 million years ago, has been designated Kermit the Frog in its honor.
Researchers studied the preserved skull of a one-inch fossil with prominent, oval-shaped eye sockets.
The prehistoric animal was dubbed Kermitops gratus in honor of Jim Henson’s famous Muppet character, Kermit the Frog.
According to Calvin So, a PhD candidate at George Washington University, choosing the name Kermit has important implications for connecting paleontology research conducted in museums with the wider public.
“Due to this creature’s evolutionary connection to modern amphibians, naming it after Kermit, a famous amphibian symbol, was a fitting choice.”
The specimen was initially found 40 years ago in a region called the Red Beds, located in Texas, USA. However, it was not closely studied until recently when it was added to the fossil collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
In 2021, Dr. Arjan Mann, a palaeontologist at the museum, finally found the fossil and described it as a “highly intact skull that has been mostly prepared”.
Dr. Mann and his apprentice, Mr. So, determined that the fossil belonged to a temnospondyl, a wide-ranging category of prehistoric amphibian ancestors that existed from 360 to 200 million years ago.
These beings are believed to be some of the earliest real amphibians and mark an important milestone in the evolution of life from aquatic to terrestrial environments.
The skull was studied and found to have a combination of characteristics, which is unlike the features found in the skulls of previous tetrapods, the evolutionary ancestors of amphibians and other existing vertebrates.
They stated that the portion of the skull located behind the eyes of the Kermitops was considerably shorter compared to its extended, curved snout.
The researchers speculate that the skull proportions of Kermitops, which may have resembled those of a stout salamander, aided in its ability to catch small, worm-like insects.
The available fossil evidence for the development of amphibians and their ancestors is limited, posing challenges in comprehending the evolution of frogs, salamanders, and their similar species.
According to the researchers, Kermitops provides insights into closing this significant gap in the fossil record.
According to Dr Mann, this is a topic of current research that many paleontologists should revisit.
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Paleontology is more than just dinosaurs, as there are many fascinating tales and unanswered mysteries in evolution still to be explored.
“We simply have to continue searching.”
Source: independent.co.uk
