''Pachycentrata'' is an extinct

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of prehistoric

amphibian Amphibians are tetrapod, four-limbed and ectothermic vertebrates of the Class (biology), class Amphibia. All living amphibians belong to the group Lissamphibia. They inhabit a wide variety of habitats, with most species living within terres ...

. ''Pachycentrata'' fossils have been found in the

In Beceten Formation The In Beceten Formation, also Beceten or Ibecten is a Coniacian to Santonian geologic formation in the Iullemmeden Basin of Niger. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, although none have yet been re ...

located in Tahoua, Niger. The fossils have been dated to the late/upper

Coniacian The Coniacian is an age or stage in the geologic timescale. It is a subdivision of the Late Cretaceous Epoch or Upper Cretaceous Series and spans the time between 89.8 ± 1 Ma and 86.3 ± 0.7 Ma (million years ago). The Coniacian is preceded by t ...

Santonian The Santonian is an age in the geologic timescale or a chronostratigraphic stage. It is a subdivision of the Late Cretaceous Epoch or Upper Cretaceous Series. It spans the time between 86.3 ± 0.7 mya (million years ago) and 83.6 ± 0.7 mya. The ...

periods. These amphibians are

anurans A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" ''Triadobatrachus'' is ...

, of the family Pipidae. They are distinguished by a few soft anatomical characters, namely their larvae, and many skeletal features that involve the structure of the skull and the vertebral column. Their typical size ranges from 0.8 to 1.2 in (20 to 30 mm) long up to 4.1–6.7 in (104–170 mm) long. Pachybatrachus is the oldest fossil of this family.

References

Late Cretaceous amphibians of Africa Fossil taxa described in 2004 Pipidae Coniacian genus first appearances Santonian genus extinctions {{pipidae-stub

See also

References