Scientists Describe First Fully Marine Triassic Amphibian

Scientists Describe First Fully Marine Triassic Amphibian

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Researchers led by Ryosuke Motani of the University of California, Davis described the Late Triassic amphibian Gerrothorax maritimus, a three-foot, armor-covered species that lived in fully marine conditions in what is now Guizhou Province, China, and published the findings in Nature Ecology & Evolution. The discovery expands understanding of amphibian evolution, challenging the long-standing view that amphibians never colonised the sea, as noted in earlier reporting.

Actors

Ryosuke Motani University of California, Davis Nature Ecology & Evolution

Locations

Guizhou Province, China Davis, California, United States

Articles

October 27, 2026
1 total
Newly Identified Triassic Amphibian Shows Full Marine Adaptation
Newly Identified Triassic Amphibian Shows Full Marine Adaptation

KSL News • 27 Oct 13:23

Scientists have described Gerrothorax maritimus, a 30-inch armored amphibian that lived in the sea 237 million years ago, marking the first known fully marine amphibian.

Credibility 72% Manip. 7% Center
October 26, 2026
4 total
Newly identified Triassic amphibian shows evidence of marine adaptation
Newly identified Triassic amphibian shows evidence of marine adaptation

Nature • 26 Oct 19:13

Fossils of a heavily armored amphibian from the Late Triassic in China suggest the species may have lived fully in salty seas, a rare trait among amphibians.

Credibility 78% Manip. 7% Center
Scientists Identify First Fully Marine Amphibian from Late Triassic China
Scientists Identify First Fully Marine Amphibian from Late Triassic China

Yahoo • 26 Oct 18:00

Fossils of Gerrothorax maritimus, a three-foot, armor-covered amphibian that lived in the sea 230 million years ago, were described by an international research team.

Credibility 78% Manip. 8% Center
Newly identified 237-million-year-old marine amphibian expands understanding of amphibian evolution
Newly identified 237-million-year-old marine amphibian expands understanding of amphibian evolution

BBC Wildlife Magazine • 26 Oct 17:00

Researchers have described a new Late Triassic amphibian, Gerrothorax maritimus, that lived in fully marine conditions, challenging the view that amphibians never colonised the sea.

Credibility 78% Manip. 8% Center
Triassic amphibian Gerrothorax maritimus identified as first fully marine species
Triassic amphibian Gerrothorax maritimus identified as first fully marine species

Gizmodo • 26 Oct 16:00

Researchers describe a 30-inch armored amphibian from 237 million years ago that lived permanently in seawater, marking the first known marine amphibian.

Credibility 78% Manip. 9% Center

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