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Antarctica has not always been a frozen wasteland. In April, on Seymour Island, near the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, the paleontologists discovered fragments of a fossilized frog dating back about 40 million years. This offers a new perspective on the continent’s ancient climate.
The shape of the newly discovered bones indicates that this frog belonged to the family Calyptocephalellidae, frogs that are found today in South America. The paleontologists were able to make such a precise connection because the skeleton of the fossil frog included a particularly useful skull and hip bone called the ″iliac bone″.
New research estimates that the highest average monthly temperatures in Antarctica 40 million years ago would have been about 13°C (56°F), being quite warm for these frogs.
If you want to find out about International Penguin Day, check out our article on this topic: International Penguin Day.
[Photo from Pixabay]
