New Ice Age Toad Species Discovered at La Brea Tar Pits

Researchers at the United States — La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles have identified a new extinct species of spadefoot toad, named Spea labreae, from fossils excavated in the 1950s. The discovery, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, marks only the second extinct Pleistocene amphibian found in North America. The study, led by Dr. Alberto Cruz, also reports the first fossil record of the Mexican burrowing toad (Rhinophrynus) in the southwestern United States, indicating a significant northward range extension during the Ice Age. Amphibians are sensitive climate indicators, and these findings provide insights into environmental changes at the end of the last Ice Age. The discovery highlights the ongoing scientific value of museum collections and coincides with the establishment of the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research at the United States — La Brea Tar Pits.