Redescription and relationships of Saltenia ibanezi, a Late Cretaceous pipid frog from northwesthern Argentina

摘要: The generic allocation of the late Cretaceous frog remains from Alemania, province Salta, northwestern Argentina, has been a matter dispute. They were considered either as representing new probably aglossan genus and species, Saltenia ibanezi Reig, 1959, or referred to African Palaeogene pipoid Eoxenopoides E. saltensis Parodi Bustos et al., 1960. Examination original material on which those studies based well recently collected specimens demonstrates that this anuran is clearly referable Pipidae, its assigment separate justified. thus earliest known pipid South America even though it occurs outside present geographic range pipids in continent. It suggested origin preceded Xenopus. latter strictly at but paleontologic data show was component American paleobatracofauna. Geologic evidence points an early radiation over American-African block Cretaceous, however not documented yet fossil record.