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A Horned Something-or-Other
Scientists have discovered a new fossil which provides more evidence that Madagascar and South America were once connected in the distant past. The real puzzler for me is that, since this thing is supposed to be related to the modern horned lizard, why the BBC reporter never once mentioned the creature is actually a reptile, not an amphibian.
Might be you need to go back and re-read it this time. Look at Ceratophrys.
Posted by: Laneg on February 19, 2008 06:24 PMNo, you read right they are just reporting it wrong. Won't let me post a link so see National Geographic.
Posted by: LaneG on February 19, 2008 06:32 PMNo, you read right they are just reporting it wrong. Won't let me post a link so see National Geographic.
Posted by: LaneG on February 19, 2008 06:33 PMYes, there are
1) horned toads (frog relatives...amphibians) and
2) horned lizards--which down in Texas and the southwest are quaintly but erroneously called "horned toads"--which are of course reptiles.
the critter mentioned in the article is of the former group, methinks.
Posted by: Mark on February 19, 2008 09:41 PM"Like its closest modern-day relatives—a group of big-mouthed frogs in South America called ceratophyrines—the devil frog also probably had a very aggressive temperament. "
Yes, I live in Texas an as a child used to play with Horned Toads, Tey were all but wiped out by the fire ants in the 80's though. I think the quote in BBC article is a mistake as in the article I quoted above they are talking about an entirely different animal.
Posted by: LaneG on February 20, 2008 10:28 AM