Oldest Fossilized Frog with Eggs Discovered in China

The 100-million-year-old specimen reveals early frogs could reproduce before full maturity, likely dying during mating.

A 100-million-year-old fossilized frog with a belly full of eggs was discovered in China, marking the oldest find of its kind.
The frog, identified as Gansubatrachus qilianensis, was found in a state of sexual maturity but skeletal immaturity, suggesting early frogs could reproduce before being fully grown.
Researchers believe the frog likely died during mating, possibly due to suffocation or exhaustion from the male's embrace, known as amplexus.
This discovery provides new insights into the reproductive strategies and life history of early frogs, contributing to our understanding of their evolutionary history.
The fossil was found in the Jiuquan Basin's Zhonggou Formation, dating back to the Lower Cretaceous period, alongside evidence that rules out environmental factors or predation as causes of death.