News by Levels · Level 1 · Student worksheet

An Ancient Animal May Have Lived in the Sea

Name: __________________________ Date: __________________

Read the story

Scientists have studied the remains of an ancient animal found in China. They think it may have lived entirely in the sea. The animal was an early kind of amphibian. Today, animals in this group include frogs and salamanders.

The team examined two skeletons. The animals lived about 237 million years ago. Their bodies were flat and covered with hard plates. The area where they were buried was once far from land.

Chemical clues in the bones also point to seawater. Researchers say the animal could be the first known amphibian to live fully in the sea. They still cannot tell exactly how its body handled salt.

Source: University of California, Davis, 2026-10-26. https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/researchers-unearth-fossil-evidence-first-fully-marine-amphibian

Read and practise

1. How long ago did the animals live?

   1. About 237 million years ago
   2. About 137 million years ago
   3. About 327 million years ago

2. What do the chemical clues in the bones point to?

   1. Freshwater
   2. Seawater
   3. How the animal handled salt

Your turn

Name two clues that suggest the animal lived in the sea.

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Read online: https://newsbylevels.com/news/armoured-amphibian-fossils-ocean-china-october-2026/level-1/