Scientists have discovered a previously unknown extinct amphibian in the fossil collections of Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits. Named Spea labreae, this Ice Age spadefoot toad is an exceptionally rare find — only one other extinct Pleistocene amphibian has been identified in North America. The bones had been sitting in collections since the 1950s before researcher José Alberto Cruz noticed features that set them apart from known species. By comparing the fossils with other specimens, he confirmed they represented a distinct species. This discovery could provide important clues about how dramatically Los Angeles’ climate changed at the end of the last ice age.
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