Amphibia of Enspel (Late Oligocene, Germany)

Abstract

Amphibia from the Late Oligocene (MP 28) locality Enspel, Germany are represented by two caudates: a hyperossified salamandrid Chelotriton paradoxus and an indeterminate salamandrid different from Chelotriton in proportions of vertebral column. Anurans are represented by two forms of the genus Palaeobatrachus, one of which is nearly as large as P. gigas (now synonymized with P. grandipes). Pelobates cf. decheni, represented in this locality by three nearly complete adult skeletons and a large number of tadpoles, is the earliest record for the genus. Compared with later representatives of the genus, it does not yet possess specializations for burrowing. Ranidae are represented by two rather fragmentary and incomplete skeletons referred to as Rana sp. A comparatively large series of tadpoles was assigned to the Pelobatidae on the basis of tripartite frontoparietal complex. Most of them are premetamorphic larvae, and a few older ones are postmetamorphic, but they do not exceed Gossner stage 42. One specimen is a large premetamorphic tadpole (no rudimentary limbs) with a total body length of 147 mm. Anatomically, it can be equally assigned to Pelobates or to Eopelobates; the second possibility was excluded only on the basis of absence of adult Eopelobates in this locality. © 2010 The Author(s).