Early Cretaceous Salamander
Yixian Formation
Liaoning, China.

155mm on 200mm slab, beautifully preserved salamander.

This Early Cretaceous salamander lived over 120 million years ago, in lush, freshwater environments alongside dinosaurs and early birds. Unlike modern salamanders, it often had external gills and a more primitive skeleton, offering a glimpse into the early evolution of amphibians. Fossils of these ancient salamanders are rare and sometimes beautifully preserved, showing fine details like soft tissue or skin impressions. Small but significant, they reveal how these ancient amphibians adapted and thrived in a world dominated by giants.