A new Ice Age species was hiding in la brea tar pits fossils for decades

Scientists have discovered a new extinct amphibian species hiding in the fossil collections of Los Angeles La Brea Tar Pits. Named Spea labreae, the Ice Age spadefoot toad is an exceptionally rare find-only one other extinct Pleistocene amphibian has ever been identified in North America. Its bones had been sitting in collections since the 1950s before a researcher noticed features that set it apart from known species.