# Callobatrachus

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***Callobatrachus*** is an extinct genus of [frog](/source/Frog) from the [Early Cretaceous](/source/Early_Cretaceous)-age [Yixian Formation](/source/Yixian_Formation) of [Liaoning](/source/Liaoning), [China](/source/China).[1] It was described in 1999 by K. Gao of the [American Museum of Natural History](/source/American_Museum_of_Natural_History) and Y. Wang of the [Chinese Academy of Sciences](/source/Chinese_Academy_of_Sciences).[2] It was discovered in the Sihetun locality of the western part of Liaoning province.[1][2]

As frogs are rarely found as articulated skeletons in the fossil record, the discovery of this new [taxon](/source/Taxon) has provided important insight into anuran evolution.[3]

The [holotype](/source/Holotype), IVPP V11525, is known from a nearly complete skeleton exposed in a [dorsal](/source/Dorsum_(anatomy)) view on a [shale](/source/Shale) slab. Its total body length (from snout to vent) is estimated at 94 mm.[4] It differs morphologically in many respects from all other discoglossids, including the number of presacral [vertebrae](/source/Vertebral_column) (9 instead of the usual 8) and other primitive characters. Although it had a mosaic of primitive and [derived](/source/Derived_trait) characters, it can be unequivocally placed as the most basal taxon of the [clade](/source/Clade). This shows that the taxon diverged early from the stem and evolved separately as a distinct lineage by the Early Cretaceous in East Asia.[1]

The skull is described as being short and wide and is well preserved. The [maxillary](/source/Maxilla) region is less well-preserved but it can be determined that each [premaxilla](/source/Premaxilla) bears 18-20 slender and conical teeth, and the maxilla bears approximately 40-50 fine [pedicellate teeth](/source/Pedicellate_teeth). The vertebral column consists of nine presacral vertebrae, a single sacral vertebra, and a free [urostyle](/source/Coccyx). Three pairs of ribs were found associated with presacrals II-IV. The hind limbs are remarkably well-preserved and are slenderly built, with an approximate total length of 116 mm. Its hind feet have the [phalangeal](/source/Phalanx_bone) formula 2-2-3-4-3, with its fourth digit being the longest at 27 mm.[4]

Before its description, *Callobatrachus* was announced in Chinese media as "sanyanlichan".[5]

While some authors have suggested *Callobatrachus* is a synonym of *[Liaobatrachus](/source/Liaobatrachus)*, this has been rejected by other authors. While originally suggested to be a "[discoglossid](/source/Discoglossid)", in a 2017 phylogenetic analysis it was found to be a crown group frog which was more derived than *[Ascaphus](/source/Ascaphus)* and *[Leiopelma](/source/Leiopelma),* but less so than [alytids](/source/Alytidae) and more advanced frogs.[6]

## See also

- [List of prehistoric amphibians](/source/List_of_prehistoric_amphibians)

## References

1. Yuan, W.; Keqin, G.; Xing, X. (2000). "Early evolution of discoglossid frogs: new evidence from the Mesozoic of China". *Naturwissenschaften*. **87** (9): 417–420. [Bibcode:2000NW.....87..417W](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2000NW.....87..417W). [doi:10.1007/s001140050753](https://doi.org/10.1007/s001140050753). [PMID 11091967](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11091967). [S2CID 86706773](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:86706773)

1. Gao, Ke-Qin & Wang, Yuan (1999). "Earliest Asian discoglossid frog from western Liaoning". *Chin Sci Bull*. **44** (7): 636–642. [Bibcode:1999ChSBu..44..636W](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1999ChSBu..44..636W). [doi:10.1007/BF03182726](https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03182726). [S2CID 128573003](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:128573003)

1. Pan, Gu (1999). "New advance in fossil anuran study". *Chinese Science Bulletin*. **44** (7): 589. [Bibcode:1999ChSBu..44..589P](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1999ChSBu..44..589P). [doi:10.1007/bf03182713](https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03182713). [S2CID 98683213](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:98683213)

1. Gao, Ke-Qin & Wang, Yuan (2001). "Mesozoic anurans from Liaoning Province, China, and phylogenetic relationships of archaeobatrachian anuran clades". *Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology*. **21** (3): 460–476. [doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2001)021\[0460:maflpc](https://doi.org/10.1671/0272-4634(2001)021%5B0460:maflpc%5D2.0.co;2)2.0.co;2]. [S2CID 56151115](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:56151115)

1. ["China Yields East Asia's Earliest Fossilized Frog"](http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200111/20/eng20011120_84925.shtml). English.peopledaily.com.cn. 2001-11-20. Retrieved 2013-06-03.

1. Gao, Ke-Qin & Chen, Jianye (2017-03-14). ["A New Crown-Group Frog (Amphibia: Anura) from the Early Cretaceous of Northeastern Inner Mongolia, China"](http://www.bioone.org/doi/10.1206/3876.1). *American Museum Novitates*. '***(3876): 1–39. [doi:10.1206/3876.1](https://doi.org/10.1206/3876.1). [ISSN 0003-0082](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0003-0082). [S2CID 44121192](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:44121192)***

## External links

- ["Chinese frog discovery sheds light on amphibians' evolution"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070224124011/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200111/s420441.htm) from ABC News Online

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Callobatrachus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callobatrachus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callobatrachus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.