Russian fossil is distinct species

A new species of salamander that roamed the Earth around 168 million years ago has been discovered by scientists in Russia.

The remains of the ancient amphibian, believed to have lived during the Middle Jurassic period (some 176-161 million years ago), were found at the Berezovsky quarry archaeological site in western Siberia.

Based on the fossil analysis published in the journal Plos One, palaentologists believe the species, named Egoria malashichevi, belonged to the geologically oldest group of salamanders, known as stem salamanders.

“Our colleagues from England will come to study our research”

The researchers excavated the fossils from the quarry during various expeditions in the mid-2010s.

With the data gathered from the fossils, the team was able to create 3D reconstructions of the species and describe its internal structure.

Based on their analysis, the researchers believe the E. malashichevi was around 20cm (8in) long.

The next step, the researchers said, will be to compare the bones with the salamander fossils from the Kirtlington quarry in Oxfordshire, which is the world’s richest archaeological site for mammal fossils from the Middle Jurassic age, about 172 million years ago.

Study author Dr Pavel Skutschas, an associate professor of St Petersburg University, believes that the salamander fossils from both sites “may be representatives of the same genera”.

He said: “In the coming spring, our colleagues from England will come to St Petersburg to study our research materials.”