A remarkable fossil discovery in East Tennessee has revealed a previously unknown, giant salamander species that lived millions of years ago. Named Dynamognathus robertsoni, this formidable prehistoric amphibian measured nearly 16 inches long—more than twice the size of today’s largest Appalachian salamanders—and boasted a powerful bite, according to an announcement by East Tennessee State University (ETSU) and research published on ScienceDaily.
Dr. Davis Gunnin, lead author of the study at ETSU’s Gray Fossil Site & Museum, described the find as a game-changer. Although modern lungless plethodontid salamanders in the region reach only about seven inches, the remains indicate that D. robertsoni was among the largest terrestrial salamanders ever in North America and had unusually robust jaw anatomy.
The genus name—Dynamognathus, or “powerful jaw”—reflects the salamander’s strong bite force. The species epithet, robertsoni, honors Wayne Robertson, the volunteer who discovered the specimen after sifting through more than 50 tons of fossil sediment.
Fossil layers date the species to about 12 million years ago, during the Miocene epoch when the Tennessee region was warmer and richer in biodiversity. Researchers believe that D. robertsoni and its relatives once thrived across a broader range of eastern North America. Over time, climate cooling and geologic shifts confined their survivors—like Alabama’s Red Hills salamander—to more restricted habitats.
