Fangs and toilet seat-shaped head: giant salamander-like fossil found in Namibia

About 2.5 metres long, creature was an apex predator 280m years ago, before age of dinosaurs, say scientists

A giant 280m-year-old salamander-like creature that was an apex predator before the age of the dinosaurs has been discovered by fossil hunters in Namibia.

The creature, Gaiasia jennyae, was about 2.5 metres long, had an enormous toilet seat-shaped head and fearsome interlocking fangs. It lurked in cold swampy waters and lakes with its mouth wide open, preparing to clamp down its powerful jaws on any prey unwise enough to swim past.