鈥淭HE frog from hell鈥�, a giant fossil discovered in Madagascar, has opened a rift among researchers over when an ancient land bridge closed. The finding supports the controversial view that South America and Madagascar were linked until 80 million years ago 鈥� far more recently than has previously been thought.
The 40-centimetre-long frog, Beelzebufo, resembles horned toads that are now unique to South America (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, ).
Team member Susan Evans of University College London says the fossil casts doubt on traditional models which suggest the land connection between South America and Madagascar was lost 120 million years ago.
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