What is triadobatrachus massinoti?

Triadobatrachus massinoti, also known as the "frog from the triassic," is an extinct amphibian that lived approximately 250 million years ago during the early Triassic period. It is considered to be one of the earliest known frogs and the oldest of the true frogs.

Triadobatrachus massinoti was about 10 centimeters long and had a relatively flat body with short legs. It is thought to have lived in both water and on land, and its skeletal structure suggests that it was capable of jumping.

The discovery of Triadobatrachus massinoti in the Alps in 1995 provided important insights into the evolution of frogs and their early anatomical adaptations. Its discovery also suggested that the diversification of frogs occurred much earlier than previously thought.

Today, Triadobatrachus massinoti is known from only a single, well-preserved fossil specimen, which is housed at the Natural History Museum in Paris.