Latonia seyfriedi

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Latonia seyfriedi
Latonia seyfriedi (holotype) from the Öhningen strata (Öhningen fossil deposit)

Latonia seyfriedi ( holotype ) from the Öhningen strata ( Öhningen fossil deposit )

Temporal occurrence
Mid Miozän ( Astaracium ; biozone MN 7/8)
12.6 to 11.2 million years
Locations
Systematics
Salientia
Frog (anura)
Disc tongue i. w. S. (Discoglossoidea)
Alytidae
Latonia
Latonia seyfriedi
Scientific name
Latonia seyfriedi
v. Meyer , 1843

Latonia seyfriedi is an extinct Froschlurch from the family of Obstetricians toads (Alytidae) that before about 12.6 to 11.2 million years ago in the Middle Miocene lived from Central Europe. Latonia seyfriedi is the type species of the genus Latonia . The most closely related recent species is the Israeli disc beak ( Latonia nigriventer ), at the same time the only living member of the genus .

Etymology and history of research

The generic name refers to an epithet of the Roman goddess Diana ( Latonia = "daughter of the Latons "). In the legend, at Latone's request, some farmers were turned into frogs as punishment. The additional species honors Johann Baptist von Seyfried from Konstanz from whose private collection the holotype came. The first description was made by Hermann von Meyer in 1843 and 1845.

The Seyfried collection, including the holotype of Latonia seyfriedi , was first donated to the Lyceum in Constance in 1854 . Subsequently, in 1933, in exchange for a mineralogical-petrographic-geological teaching collection , the collection passed into the possession of the then "Landessammlungen für Naturkunde Karlsruhe" (now the State Museum for Natural History Karlsruhe - SMNK).

The species was re-described by Rocek in 1994. Latonia seyfriedi gained renewed attention in science and the public when the Israeli disc beak ( Latonia nigriventer ) was recognized as the last living representative of the genus Latonia , which was previously considered to be extinct .

features

Unless otherwise stated, the description is based on Rocek, 1994 or Biton et al., 2014.

Characteristics at the generic level

  • In contrast to all other frogs, the angular bone (Praeartikluare in Rocek, 1994) has two crown processes (coronoid and paracoronoid processes) instead of just one.
  • A flat, enlarged and clearly rimmed upper edge of the posterior lateral surface of the angular bone (prearticle).
  • The wing bone (os pterygoideum) shows a clearly developed, flange-like appendage ventrally (on the abdomen).
  • Maxilla with elongated, straight and horizontal dorsal border of the zygomatico-maxillary process (zygomatic process of the upper jaw) and clearly developed pterygoid process (pterygoid process).
  • Inner side of the maxilla in the posterior area, at the pterygoid process, with a distinct indentation.

Characteristics at the species level

A species-specific feature of the otherwise very similar taxon Latonia gigantea is a conspicuous sculpture on the outside of the maxilla . Two other fossil members of the genus ( Latonia ragei and Latonia vertaizoni ) lack this feature. Since both specimens (holotype and A-II-28) of Latonia seyfriedi , in which corresponding parts of the cranial skeleton are present, are embedded with their dorsal side in the sediment, a corresponding diagnosis is not possible on both of them, or only with considerable preparation effort scientifically-historically significant, specimens possible.

Theoretically there is therefore the possibility that Latonia seyfriedi turns out to be conspecific with one of the other fossil Latonia species. In this case the species name Latonia seyfriedi would have priority and the name of the conspecific taxon would become obsolete as a junior synonym .

Fossil evidence and distribution

Of Latonia seyfriedi only 3 secured copies are collectively known. In addition to the holotype on the SMNK (without catalog number) there are two other specimens in the collection of the Paleontological Institute of the University of Zurich under the inventory numbers A-II-27 and A-II-28. All 3 specimens were found in the first half of the 19th century in the quarries of the Öhningen fossil deposit . The secured geographical distribution area of Latonia seyfriedi is accordingly limited to this locality.

The Zurich copy A-II-27 is largely disarticulated and apparently contains the remains of more than one individual. Both the holotype and the Zurich specimen A-II-28 are individual individuals with a largely articulated cranial skeleton. Both specimens are exposed with the ventral side. The dorsal side is embedded in the rock.

Paleoecology

Although Latonia seyfriedi is only known to have been found with 3 specimens from one site, some statements can still be made about the autecology . The stratum typicum , the find layer of the holotype, is given as “in the so-called kettle stone” of the Öhningen fossil deposit . "Kesselstein" is a hard, slightly bituminous freshwater lime that was mined at the deepest point ("in the kettle") of the slightly higher quarry ("Oberer Steinbruch" or simply "Oberer Bruch") on the southern flank of the Schiener Berg .

The Öhningen fossil deposit can be divided into two different storage areas. In the sites of discovery on the southern Schiener Berg , freshwater limes predominate, which were deposited in a maar lake that was probably formed by a phreatomagmatic explosion in the early phase of the Hegau volcanism. The sites a little further north on the Schiener Berg, on the other hand, are dominated by marls which, according to Hantke , were deposited in the dead arms of an extensive, interwoven river system .

Above all, the numerous plant fossils allow detailed conclusions to be drawn about the climatic conditions of the habitat of Latonia seyfriedi . Hantke summarizes the following key data:

  • 7–8 ° C mean temperature for the coldest month of the year
  • ~ 24 ° C mean temperature for the warmest month of the year
  • ~ 15 ° C as annual temperature mean
  • 1300–1500 mm annual rainfall; relatively evenly distributed over the year; d. H. without pronounced dry or rainy seasons

and compares with the Köppen'schen Air Class CFA (warm temperate to subtropical rain climate).

More detailed statements can hardly be made about the diet of Latonia seyfriedi . Most frogs feed on carnivore, the range of prey being largely size-dependent. Even from the recent representative of the genus ( Latonia nigriventer ) only an analysis of the stomach contents is known (4 land snails and a woodlice ) and one documented case of cannibalism in captivity. In conclusion by analogy, it can be assumed that Latonia seyfriedi ate larger arthropods , molluscs and smaller vertebrates.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c H. v. Meyer: Communications addressed to Professor Bronn. In: New yearbook for mineralogy, geognosy, geology and petrefacts customer. , Year 1843, p. 580, 1843. (digitized version)
  2. ↑ a b H. v. Meyer: Fossil mammals, birds and reptiles from the molasse marl of Oeningen. In: H. v. Meyer (Ed.): Zur Fauna der Vorwelt , Volume 1, 52 p., Schmerber, Frankfurt, 1845.
  3. ^ A b c G. Mayer: Contributions to the history of the Baden state collections for natural history in Karlsruhe - V. Acquisition of the natural history cabinets in Meersburg (1803) and Sankt Blasien (1807). In: Contributions to natural history research in Southwest Germany , Volume 32, pp. 195–203, 1973. (digitized version )
  4. ↑ a b c d e f Z. Rocek: Taxonomy and Distribution of Tertiary Discoglossids (Anura) of the Genus Latonia v. Meyer, 1843. In: GEOBIOS , Volume 27, No. 6, pp. 717-751, 1994. (digitized version )
  5. ↑ a b R. Biton, E. Geffen, M. Vences, O. Cohen, S. Bailon, R. Rabinovich, Y. Malka, T. Oron, R. BOISTEL, V. & S. Brumfeld Gafny: The rediscovered Hula painted frog is a living fossil. In: Nature Communications , 4: 1959, doi : 10.1038 / ncomms2959 , 2013. (online)
  6. ↑ a b c R. Biton, R. Boistel, R. Rabinovich, S. Gafny, V. Brumfeld, & S. Bailon: Osteological Observations on the Alytid Anura Latonia nigriventer with Comments on Functional Morphology, Biogeography, and Evolutionary History. In: Journal of Morphology , Volume 277, No. 9, pp. 1131–1145, 2016. (digitized version )
  7. ↑ a b c d R. Hantke: The fossil flora of the Upper Miocene Oehninger discovery site Schrotzburg (Schienerberg, South Baden) In: Memoranda of the Swiss Natural Research Society , Volume 80, Abhandlung 2, pp. 31–118, 1954. (available at research-collection.ethz.ch)
  8. ↑ a b c R. Hantke: The fossil oaks and maples from the molasses of Switzerland and from Oehningen (South Baden) In: Neujahrsblatt published by the Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Zurich , 167th piece, 142 p., 1965. (digitized version )