ALBANERPETONTIDS are a group of enigmatic salamander-like fossil amphi
bians known from deposits of middle Jurassic to Miocene age across Eur
america and Central Asia. Throughout a long history they remained rema
rkably conservative but can be diagnosed by a suite of unique derived
character states, including an anterior peg-and-socket joint between t
he mandibles, nonpedicellate tricuspate teeth, a distinctive polygonal
dermal sculpture pattern, and a two-part craniovertebral joint analog
ous to that of amniotes. Previous interpretations have placed albanerp
etontids within salamanders(1,2) or as a separate amphibian group(3,4)
. We report here on the recovery of the first complete albanerpetontid
specimens (including traces of skin and possible male courtship gland
s) from the early Cretaceous of Spain. The new material supports the i
nterpretation of albanerpetontids as predominantly terrestrial animals
. Albanerpetontids resemble salamanders only in retaining an unspecial
ized tailed body form; cladistic analysis suggests they represent a di
stinct lissamphibian lineage.