Ichthyosaura randeckensis
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| Ichthyosaura randeckensis Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Salamandridae |
| Genus: | Ichthyosaura |
| Species: | I. randeckensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Ichthyosaura randeckensis Schoch & Rasser, 2013 | |
Ichthyosaura randeckensis is a fossil newt species in the family Salamandridae. It was described in 2013 from a Miocene volcanic lake deposit, the Randeck Maar Formation, in Germany. The fossil specimen is fully articulated and 3–4 centimetres (1.2–1.6 in) long. A phylogenetic analysis found the species to be the sister species of the extant alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris), and the authors therefore placed it in the same genus.[1] Later analysis by other authors did not confirm this, however; they suggested I. randeckensis may not belong to Ichthyosaura.[2] As Ichthyosaura is regarded a junior synnonym of Salamandra and the alpine newt is now placed in the genus Mesotriton,[3] the fossil species should be placed in the latter genus as well.
