article_snippet: A crocodile-like amphibian that was the size of a small car dominated prehistoric lakes more than 200 million years ago, a new study has found.
article_snippet: Palaeontologists discovered the fossilised remains of the 'super salamander' while excavating on the site of an ancient lake in southern Portugal.
article_snippet: The researchers behind the discovery, which was made in mudstone flats close to Loulé, in the Algarve region of southern Portugal, say that the new species was similar to other primitive amphibian that were widespread at the time.
article_snippet: The rare giant salamander is thought to be one of the new species.
article_snippet: The rare giant salamander first appeared on the planet around 170 million years ago but there are now just a handful of surviving populations left in the wild.
article_snippet: The rare giant salamander are now the largest living amphibians and can grow to be up to 1.8 metres (5.9 feet) in length.
article_snippet: officials say officials were probably the forerunners of modern amphibians such as frogs, newts and salamanders.
article_snippet: Dr Steve Brusatte, a vertebrate palaeontologist at the University of Edinburgh who led the study, said: 'This new amphibian looks like something out of a bad monster movie. '
article_snippet: Most species of giant salamander-like amphibians were wiped out during a mass extinction 201 million years ago which marked the end of the Triassic period.
article_snippet: Dr Richard Butler, another researcher involved in the study and a palaeontologist at the University of Birmingham, said: 'Most modern amphibians are pretty tiny and harmless. '
highlights_snippet: The creature was related to other primitive salamanders living at the time .