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| Rana strausi Temporal range: Late Pliocene | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Ranidae |
| Genus: | Rana |
| Species: | †R. strausi |
| Binomial name | |
| †Rana strausi Špinar, 1980 | |
Rana strausi is an extinct species of true frog from the late Pliocene discovered in Willershausen, Germany.
Description
There was only one holotype, but the author used 6 specimens to get an accurate description. It has a relatively small skull relative to the body. The skull is also around 0,5 cm wider than it is long and ends in a somewhat pointy snout. It has a long spine consisting of 9 relatively long vertebrae. Males and females can be distinguished by the width of the pelvis; males have narrower pelvises than females. Some of the soft tissue has been preserved, including some pigmentation. The hindlimbs have dark, horizontal stripes; 5 stripes on the thigh and 4 on the calf.
The eggs appeared pigmented and oval. However, the oval shape is likely caused by deformation, as a similar species (Common frog) produces round eggs.
Etymology
Rana strausi is named after Dr. Adolf Straus because he, according to Špinar (the author), significantly helped expand the knowledge about fossils from the fossil-rich clay pit in Willershausen.
References
- ^ Špinar, Zdeněk (1980). "Fossile Raniden aus dem oberen Pliozän von Willershausen (Niedersachsen)" (PDF). Zobodat.
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