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A new Ice Age toad has been found in LA. Why the discovery matters
Summary by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk Cato Hernández , as published by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
· August 5, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) · view original
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page Cato Hernández, as published by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) Original story Read at the source Source published Aug 5, 2026 Indexed here Aug 5, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway The discovery is notable as it is one of only two amphibians from this era found in North America.
In Los Angeles , a significant finding has been made at the La Brea Tar Pits. A newly discovered species of amphibian is a type of spadefoot. This small creature has distinct features, including unique pupils and spurs on its feet that aid in digging.
The discovery is notable as it is one of only two amphibians from this era found in North America. Researchers have given it a name that references its discovery location. Further details about this finding are available from the study published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
The La Brea Tar Pits continue to yield important discoveries, even while the museum is closed for renovations. This latest finding highlights the ongoing significance of the site for understanding the region's past.
Why this matters
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About this story
As published by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local Published: August 5, 2026 Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? In Los Angeles, a significant finding has been made at the La Brea Tar Pits. A newly discovered species of amphibian is a type of spadefoot. This small creature has distinct features, including…
When was this published? This article was first published on August 5, 2026 by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Cato Hernández at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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