Devil frog fossil revealed

The computer model shows the three-dimensional (3D) appearance of an ancient frog fossil, Beelzebufo ampinga. These ancient animals lived approximately 65-70 million years ago. As reported by NBC News, on Wednesday, February 5, 2014, this predator living being referred to as 'devil frog'. Scientists reveal, that the shape of the bones of these animals looked horrible than previous estimates.

An illustration of the giant Cretaceous-era frog, Beelzebufo ampinga, next to the largest living frog on Madagascar, the Mantydactylus ampinga. (Picture from: http://www.livescience.com/)

Beelzebufo Ampinga that lived in the Cretaceous period in a region, is now Africa. Through a three-dimensional view, can be seen this animal bones stood out in the back of the skull and bones are resembling protector (armor) on its back, like a turtle shell.

Beelzebufo ampinga, had monster flanges protruding from the back of its skull and armour on its back like a shell. A new computer model for Beelzebufo ampinga's skeleton incorporates fossil specimens marked in dark blue. The scale bar at lower right marks roughly an inch in length. (Picture from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/)

"We know it's big, and it almost certainly is a predator," said Susan Evans, a paleontologist at University College London. Scientists also revealed that the bone protruding portion serves as a defensive weapon of the ancestral frogs when attacked by dinosaurs. Like spines on a hedgehog, the prominent part was aided when it will be eaten by predator dinosaurs and crocodiles.

The skull of the devil frog is shown here. Scientists suspect the devil frog's body armour may have been an adaptation to a dry environment allowing it to burrow underground to cool down. Areas of digital model representing actual specimens are shown in dark blue; and missing regions silhouetted in grey. (Picture from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/)

Researchers first found some bone fragments of a mysterious frog in Madagascar in 1998. However, it took many years until scientists were able to identify the exact species in 2008.

Researchers combine multiple bone fragments of Beelzebufo ampinga to enhance the fossil reconstruction in 3D view. This ancient frog has a large body size, and can grow to sizes up to 25.4 cm.. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | NBC NEWS | DAILYMAIL]

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