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The ancient tadpoles probably resembled some modern species in size and feeding strategy.
这种古代蝌蚪在体型大小和进食策略方面，可能和某些现生物种有相似之处。
Bullfrog tadpoles scrape algae of stones and then suck them in, and they also occasionally grow to a large size.
牛蛙蝌蚪会刮石头上的藻类、再吸进嘴巴，而且偶尔也会长得很大。
Meanwhile, the tadpoles of so-called paradoxical frogs (Pseudis paradoxa), an intriguing species also from Argentina, grow to nearly eight inches long, while adults barely exceed two inches.
同时，有种号称悖论蛙、同样来自阿根廷的有趣的物种（又称奇异多指节蟾），它的蝌蚪可以长到将近8英寸长，而成蛙大小却几乎不超过2英寸。
Most other frogs tend to be largest in the adult phase of their lives.
大部分的蛙类一生中体型最大的时候都是在成蛙阶段。
Why exactly N. degiustoi tadpoles grew and stayed so large is unclear.
Notobatrachus degiustoi的蝌蚪到底为什么会长那么大、并维持那种体型，目前还不清楚。
"I'm surprised by the exceptional preservation of this tadpole," says zoologist Marissa Fabrezi of the Universidad Nacional de Salta in Argentina, who has studied paradoxical frogs.
“这只蝌蚪保存得这么好，真是太令人惊讶了。”阿根廷国立沙尔塔大学的动物学家玛丽莎·法布雷奇说，她曾经研究过奇异多指节蟾。
"It's difficult to explain the size of giant tadpoles. This is important for understanding their evolution."
“这种巨大蝌蚪的体型难以解释，这对了解它们的进化非常重要。”
Given the well-developed cartilage and even some bone structures imprinted on the rock, the fossilized tadpole was close to metamorphosis, says Chuliver.
因为软骨发育良好，甚至还有些骨骼结构印痕留在岩石上，这只蝌蚪化石已经很接近变态，楚利维说。
So it probably would not have grown bigger than the adults, which tend to be roughly the same length as the tadpole in the quarry's fossil record.
所以它很可能也不会长得比成蛙更大，而在采石场的化石纪录中，成蛙长度就跟这只蝌蚪差不多。
Yet modern paradoxical frogs may still provide clues to why N. degiustoi's tadpoles grew so large.
但现代的奇异多指节蟾或许还是能提供线索，来解释Notobatrachus degiustoi的蝌蚪为什么会长这么大。
Like the fossilized frogs, paradoxical frogs live in temporary pools that dry up when there isn't enough rain, which means they don't face much competition or predation from fish.
奇异多指节蟾，和这些化石蛙一样，生活在暂时性的池塘中，当雨水不足时，池塘便会干涸，也就是说，它们不常面临来自鱼类的捕食竞争或被捕食的压力。
This allows the tadpoles to stay in the tadpole stage for longer and grow larger before they metamorphose into adults, making maximum use of the food available in the pools before moving on to terrestrial snacks.
因此，它们可以停留在蝌蚪阶段更久、长得更大，最大限度地利搜刮水池的食物，然后再变态为成蛙，转而捕食陆地上的点心。
The discovery of this more than 160-million-year-old tadpole is a testament to the success of the frog's way of life, says Agnolín.
安诺林说，发现这个超过1亿6000万年历史的蝌蚪，证明了这种青蛙的生活方式是成功的。
Today, however, many frogs are struggling, as their dependence on both land and water habitats makes them twice as vulnerable to human disturbance.
然而，如今有许多蛙类正面临生存危机，因为它们既仰赖陆地、也仰赖水域栖息地，让它们在面对人类的干扰时是双倍脆弱。
"The very same metamorphosis that made them successful now makes them more prone to extinction," says Agnolín.
“让它们成功的同一套策略，也恰恰会让它们更容易灭绝。”安诺林说。
