New species of amphibian discovered in the Iberian Peninsula with 66 million years.

Researchers from Portuguese and Spanish institutions have identified a new amphibian species from 66-million-year-old fossils found in Spain. The fossils, discovered in Areny, Huesca, included over eighty bones and belong to a previously unknown group of albanerpetontids, resembling salamanders. These small amphibians, measuring less than five centimeters, had unique features such as a rapidly projecting tongue and scaly skin. The study, published in Cretaceous Research, suggests that these amphibians played a significant role in Mesozoic ecosystems. The new species is named Synorerpeton ribagorzana, reflecting its geographical and geological significance. This discovery enhances understanding of amphibian migrations and highlights the Iberian Peninsula as crucial for studying the late dinosaur era.