Regalerpeton weichangensis is a type of tailed amphibian found in Weichang, Hebei Province, during the Early Cretaceous. Recently, Professor Wang Yuan's research group at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology studied eight newly discovered fossil samples, revising and supplementing the identification characteristics of Regalerpeton weichangensis. The relevant research results were published in the *Vertebrata PalAsiatica*.
New research indicates that paired, parallel ossified hypobranchial bones I and II are only found in juvenile and necrozoan salamanders, and therefore they are also considered juvenile lingulatine organs. The adult Royal salamander preserves three pairs of gills, juvenile wing bones, and juvenile lingulatine organs, features suggesting that Royal salamander should be a necrozoan.
Based on morphological characteristics, the ecological environment of the Royal Newt was reconstructed: Juvenile Royal Newts retained three pairs of external gills with dense gill filaments and a high caudal fin, living in relatively deep waters and breathing through their gills. During the transition to adulthood, the external gills degenerated, the caudal fin decreased, and they lived in shallower waters, able to extend their heads above the water to breathe through their mouths. Furthermore, the fossil record shows that adult Royal Newts preserved ossified carpal tarsi, indicating that their limbs had strong supporting capabilities.
This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41472018) and the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDB18030503).
Figure 1. Back view of the Royal Salamander of Weichang (Photo provided by Rong Yufen)
Figure 2. Ecological restoration map of the Royal Newt in Weichang (drawn by Guo Xiaocong)
