New Ice Age Spadefoot Toad Species Unearthed in La Brea Tar Pits

Scientists have identified a previously unknown extinct amphibian, Spea labreae, from fossils stored at Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits. The species, a spadefoot toad that lived during the Pleistocene, was recognized only after a researcher examined bones that had been in the collection since the 1950s. Spea labreae is exceptionally rare, making it only the second extinct Pleistocene amphibian discovered in North America. The find highlights the value of reexamining museum collections and expands knowledge of Ice Age biodiversity in the region.