“Kermitops gratus: The Original Hipster Frog or Just a Green Poser?”
So, apparently scientists have discovered a new species of ancient amphibian that they have decided to name after our favorite felt-covered, banjo-playing, pig-wooing frog, Kermit. Yes, you heard that right. Kermit the Frog now has a distant cousin named Kermitops gratus. I can already picture this little guy singing “It’s not easy being green” in a prehistoric swamp somewhere.
With cartoonishly large eyes that remind researchers of Jim Henson’s iconic creation, Kermitops gratus is said to have roamed the Earth around 216 million years ago during the Triassic period. I can only imagine the shenanigans Kermit and this ProtoFrog would have gotten into if they had ever crossed paths. Miss Piggy would definitely have some competition for Kermit’s affections.
The fossilized remains of Kermit the ProtoFrog were found in a limestone quarry in China, which makes me wonder what other Muppet-inspired creatures might be lurking in the depths of that quarry. Maybe we’ll find a Gonzo-saurus or a Fozzie Bear-raptor next.
Scientists describe Kermit the ProtoFrog as having long hind legs for jumping and a wide mouth for catching prey, which sounds a lot like a regular frog to me. But apparently, this guy was bigger and had more primitive features, which I guess means he wasn’t as good at playing the banjo as our Kermit.
This discovery is supposed to shed new light on the evolutionary history of amphibians, but all I can think about is how hilarious it would be to see Kermit the Frog hosting a nature show about his ancient relatives. I can already hear him saying, “It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights, it’s time to meet the ProtoFrog on the Muppet Show tonight!”
In the end, naming this ancient ancestor after Kermit is a fitting tribute to both the lovable Muppet character and the weird and wonderful world of prehistoric creatures. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll find a species of dinosaur named after Miss Piggy or Animal. Until then, let’s just enjoy the fact that Kermit the ProtoFrog is now a part of our collective history, ribbiting his way into our hearts and making us all wish we had a banjo-playing frog of our own.
Image: 
Source: Salon
URL: https://www.salon.com/2024/03/26/kermit-the-proto-frog-scientists-name-ancient-amphibian-ancestor-after-the-iconic-muppet/