Unveiling the First Neobatrachian (Anura) Discovered in the paleokarst system of Bolt’s Farm (Plio-Pleistocene; Cradle of Humankind), South Africa

Researchers have uncovered the first fossilized remains of a neobatrachian frog (Anura) from the Plio-Pleistocene paleokarst system at Bolt’s Farm, part of South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind. This discovery, described through CT-scanning analysis, reveals an articulated specimen with clear osteological similarities to the Pyxicephalidae family, suggesting it belonged to this large African group. The frog's preserved position mirrors that of living pyxicephalids during dormancy, implying it died in a dry season, reinforcing paleoenvironmental reconstructions of seasonal savannah conditions. This finding extends South Africa’s anuran fossil record beyond the southern Pliocene sites and provides new insights into the region’s ecological history.

Lemierre, A., Vilakazi, N., Gommery, D., & Kgasi, L. (2024). Unveiling the First Neobatrachian (Anura) Discovered in the paleokarst system of Bolt’s Farm (Plio-Pleistocene; Cradle of Humankind), South Africa. African Journal of Herpetology, 73(2), 166–184. https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2024.2351821