評論
打印
The ancient tadpoles probably resembled some modern species in size and feeding strategy.
這種古代蝌蚪在體型大小和進食策略方面，可能和某些現生物種有相似之處。
Bullfrog tadpoles scrape algae of stones and then suck them in, and they also occasionally grow to a large size.
牛蛙蝌蚪會刮石頭上的藻類、再吸進嘴巴，而且偶爾也會長得很大。
Meanwhile, the tadpoles of so-called paradoxical frogs (Pseudis paradoxa), an intriguing species also from Argentina, grow to nearly eight inches long, while adults barely exceed two inches.
同時，有種號稱悖論蛙、同樣來自阿根廷的有趣的物種（又稱奇異多指節蟾），它的蝌蚪可以長到將近8英寸長，而成蛙大小卻幾乎不超過2英寸。
Most other frogs tend to be largest in the adult phase of their lives.
大部分的蛙類一生中體型最大的時候都是在成蛙階段。
Why exactly N. degiustoi tadpoles grew and stayed so large is unclear.
Notobatrachus degiustoi的蝌蚪到底為什么會長那么大、并維持那種體型，目前還不清楚。
"I'm surprised by the exceptional preservation of this tadpole," says zoologist Marissa Fabrezi of the Universidad Nacional de Salta in Argentina, who has studied paradoxical frogs.
“這只蝌蚪保存得這么好，真是太令人驚訝了。”阿根廷國立沙爾塔大學的動物學家瑪麗莎·法布雷奇說，她曾經研究過奇異多指節蟾。
"It's difficult to explain the size of giant tadpoles. This is important for understanding their evolution."
“這種巨大蝌蚪的體型難以解釋，這對了解它們的進化非常重要。”
Given the well-developed cartilage and even some bone structures imprinted on the rock, the fossilized tadpole was close to metamorphosis, says Chuliver.
因為軟骨發育良好，甚至還有些骨骼結構印痕留在巖石上，這只蝌蚪化石已經很接近變態，楚利維說。
So it probably would not have grown bigger than the adults, which tend to be roughly the same length as the tadpole in the quarry's fossil record.
所以它很可能也不會長得比成蛙更大，而在采石場的化石紀錄中，成蛙長度就跟這只蝌蚪差不多。
Yet modern paradoxical frogs may still provide clues to why N. degiustoi's tadpoles grew so large.
但現代的奇異多指節蟾或許還是能提供線索，來解釋Notobatrachus degiustoi的蝌蚪為什么會長這么大。
Like the fossilized frogs, paradoxical frogs live in temporary pools that dry up when there isn't enough rain, which means they don't face much competition or predation from fish.
奇異多指節蟾，和這些化石蛙一樣，生活在暫時性的池塘中，當雨水不足時，池塘便會干涸，也就是說，它們不常面臨來自魚類的捕食競爭或被捕食的壓力。
This allows the tadpoles to stay in the tadpole stage for longer and grow larger before they metamorphose into adults, making maximum use of the food available in the pools before moving on to terrestrial snacks.
因此，它們可以停留在蝌蚪階段更久、長得更大，最大限度地利搜刮水池的食物，然后再變態為成蛙，轉而捕食陸地上的點心。
The discovery of this more than 160-million-year-old tadpole is a testament to the success of the frog's way of life, says Agnolín.
安諾林說，發現這個超過1億6000萬年歷史的蝌蚪，證明了這種青蛙的生活方式是成功的。
Today, however, many frogs are struggling, as their dependence on both land and water habitats makes them twice as vulnerable to human disturbance.
然而，如今有許多蛙類正面臨生存危機，因為它們既仰賴陸地、也仰賴水域棲息地，讓它們在面對人類的干擾時是雙倍脆弱。
"The very same metamorphosis that made them successful now makes them more prone to extinction," says Agnolín.
“讓它們成功的同一套策略，也恰恰會讓它們更容易滅絕。”安諾林說。
