Project 954: S. E. Evans, L. Claessens, J. R. Groenke, M. E. Jones, A. H. Turner, D. W. Krause. 2014. New Material of Beelzebufo, a Hyperossified Frog (Amphibia: Anura) from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. PLOS ONE. 9 (1):e87236.
Abstract
The extant anuran fauna of Madagascar is exceptionally rich and almost completely endemic. In recent years, many new species have been described and understanding of the history and relationships of this fauna has been greatly advanced by molecular studies, but very little is known of the fossil history of frogs on the island. Beelzebufo ampinga, the first named pre-Holocene frog from Madagascar, was described in 2008 on the basis of numerous disarticulated cranial and postcranial elements from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Maevarano Formation of Madagascar. These specimens documented the presence of a hyperossified taxon that differed strikingly from extant Malagasy frogs in its large size and heavy cranial exostosis. Here we describe and analyse new, articulated, and more complete material of the skull, vertebral column, and hind limb, as well as additional isolated elements discovered since 2008. μCT scans allow a detailed understanding of both internal and external morphology and permit a more accurate reconstruction. The new material shows Beelzebufo to have been even more bizarre than originally interpreted, with large posterolateral skull flanges and sculptured vertebral spine tables. The apparent absence of an external ear, the strong exostosis, and vertebral morphology suggest it may have burrowed during seasonally arid conditions, which have been interpreted for the Maevarano Formation from independent sedimentological and taphonomic evidence. New phylogenetic analyses, incorporating both morphological and molecular data, continue to place Beelzebufo with hyloid rather than ranoid frogs. Within Hyloidea, Beelzebufo still groups with the South American Ceratophryidae thus continuing to pose difficulties with both biogeographic interpretations and prior molecular divergence dates.Read the article »
Article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087236
Project DOI: 10.7934/P954, http://dx.doi.org/10.7934/P954
This project contains | Matrices |
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Download Project SDD File | Total scored cells: 5273 Total media associated with cells: 0 Total labels associated with cell media: 0 |
Characters | |
Total characters: 75 Total characters with associated media: 0 Total characters with media with labels: 0 Total character states: 183 Total character states with associated media: 0 Total character states with media with labels:0 Total unordered/ordered characters:75/0 |
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MorphoBank Project 954
MorphoBank Project 954
- Creation Date:
16 May 2013 - Publication Date:
28 January 2014 - Project views: 53049
- Matrix downloads: 25
This research
supported by
Authors' Institutions
- University College London
- University of Adelaide
- American Museum of Natural History
- Stony Brook University
Members
member name | taxa | specimens | media | chars | character
| cell scorings (scored, NPA, "-") | cell
| rules | ||||||
Alan Turner Project Administrator | 83 | 1 | 1 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 5273 (5165, 0, 108) | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
MorphoBank Curator Full membership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (0, 0, 0) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Taxonomic Overview for Matrix 'M2133' (83 Taxa)
taxon | unscored cells |
scored cells |
no cell support |
NPA cells |
"-" cells | cell images | labels on cell images |
member access |
[1] Alytes obstetricans Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 0 | 73 | 73 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[2] † Arariphrynus placidoi Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 46 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[3] Arthroleptis adolphifriederic Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 0 | 75 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[4] Bombina variegata Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 1 | 73 | 73 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[5] Ceratophrys ornata Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 1 | 72 | 72 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[6] Chiromantis rufescens Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 1 | 74 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[7] Conraua crassipes Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 4 | 71 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[8] † Cratia gracilis Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 54 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[9] Dermatonotus muelleri Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 0 | 72 | 72 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[10] Discoglossus pictus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 1 | 73 | 73 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[11] † Eurycephalella alcinae Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 49 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[12] Gastrotheca gracilis Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 28 | 47 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[13] Guibemantis liber Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 0 | 75 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[14] Heleophryne natalensis Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 1 | 73 | 73 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[15] Hylarana albolabris Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 1 | 74 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[16] Hyperolius kivuensis Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 1 | 74 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[17] Hypsiboas andinus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 6 | 68 | 68 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[18] Lepidobatrachus laevis Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 1 | 72 | 72 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[19] Leptodactylus ocellatus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 0 | 74 | 74 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[20] Leptopelis christyi Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 1 | 74 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[21] Litoria lesueurii Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 17 | 58 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[22] Megophrys nasuta Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 8 | 66 | 66 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[23] Melanophryniscus stelzneri Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 2 | 70 | 70 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[24] Mixophyes schevilli Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 2 | 72 | 72 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[25] Nannophryne variegatus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 4 | 67 | 67 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[26] Pelobates cultripes Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 2 | 72 | 72 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[27] Pelodytes punctatus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 1 | 73 | 73 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[28] Phlyctimantis verrucosus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 3 | 72 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[29] Phrynobatrachus acutirostris Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 0 | 75 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[30] Phrynomantis bifasciatus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 0 | 69 | 69 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[31] Phyllomedusa sauvagii Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 1 | 71 | 71 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[32] Platyplectrum ornatum Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 2 | 72 | 72 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[33] Pleurodema thaul Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 0 | 73 | 73 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[34] Pristimantis huicundo Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 1 | 72 | 72 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[35] Ptychadena mascareniensis Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 0 | 74 | 74 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[36] Rana temporaria Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 2 | 73 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[37] Scaphiopus couchii Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 2 | 71 | 71 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[38] Scinax jolyi Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 5 | 69 | 69 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[39] Sooglossus sechellensis Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 8 | 66 | 66 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[40] Telmatobius scrocchii Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 2 | 72 | 72 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[41] Telmatobufo venustus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 2 | 72 | 72 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[42] Thoropa miliaris Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 11 | 63 | 63 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[43] † Beelzebufo ampinga Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 54 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[44] † Uberabatrachus carvalhoi Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 50 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[45] Afrana angolensis Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 7 | 68 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[46] Afrixalus fulvovittatus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 6 | 69 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[47] Allophryne ruthveni Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 0 | 70 | 70 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[48] Amnirana albolabris Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 5 | 69 | 69 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[49] Callulops kopsteini Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 11 | 57 | 57 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[50] Astylosternus diadematus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 5 | 70 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[51] Aubria subsigillata Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 10 | 65 | 65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[52] Batrachophrynus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 17 | 56 | 56 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[53] Bufo granulosus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 1 | 70 | 70 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[54] Bufo viridis Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 9 | 62 | 62 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[55] Cardioglossa cyaneospila Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 8 | 69 | 66 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[56] Calyptocephalella gayi Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 12 | 61 | 61 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[57] Ceratobatrachus guentheri Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 3 | 71 | 71 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[58] Chacophrys pierottii Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 10 | 63 | 63 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[59] Cyclorana australis Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 14 | 60 | 59 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[60] Dendrosophus nanus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 17 | 57 | 57 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[61] Dyscophus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 23 | 51 | 51 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[62] Flectonotus fitzgeraldi Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 11 | 63 | 63 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[63] Heleioporus eyeri Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 18 | 56 | 56 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[64] Hemiphractus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 18 | 56 | 56 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[65] Hoplobatrachus occipitalis Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 6 | 69 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[66] Hymenochirus boettgeri Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 26 | 45 | 45 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[67] Isthmohyla rivularis Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 15 | 58 | 58 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[68] Kassina senegalensis Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 5 | 70 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[69] Limnodynastes dorsalis Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 9 | 65 | 65 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[70] Odontophrynus americanus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 8 | 65 | 64 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[71] Opisthohylax immaculatus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 16 | 59 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[72] Osteopilus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 17 | 58 | 57 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[73] Physalaemus biligonigerus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 5 | 69 | 69 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[74] Pseudis paradoxa Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 16 | 58 | 58 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[75] Pyxicephalus adspersus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 4 | 70 | 70 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[76] Rhinoderma darwinii Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 10 | 62 | 62 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[77] Spea bombifrons Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 17 | 56 | 56 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[78] Schoutedenella sylvatica Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 9 | 65 | 65 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[79] † Thaumastosaurus sulcatus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 65 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[80] Triprion petasatus Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 19 | 54 | 54 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[81] Xenopus laevis Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 14 | 58 | 58 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[82] † Baurubatrachus pricei Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 51 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
[83] † Wawelia gerholdi Last Modified in 12/05/13 | 66 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Project views
type | number of views | Individual items viewed (where applicable) |
Total project views | 53049 | |
Project overview | 5199 | |
Matrix views | 3068 | Matrix landing page (2712 views); Phenotypic Dataset (356 views); |
Media views | 7586 | Media search (6632 views); M307811 (954 views); |
Specimen list | 3669 | |
Taxon list | 28056 | |
Bibliography | 2272 | |
Documents list | 3199 |
Project downloads
type | number of downloads | Individual items downloaded (where applicable) |
Total downloads from project | 434 | |
Matrix downloads | 25 | Phenotypic Dataset (25 downloads); |
Document downloads | 17 | Combined Dataset (TNT Format) (8 downloads); Combined Dataset (MrBayes Format) (5 downloads); BB1.tnt (All Phenotypic Characters/No Thaumastosaurus) (3 downloads); Combined Dataset: No hyperossified characters (1 download); |
Project downloads | 392 |