Ophiderpeton

O-phid-erp-e-ton.
Published on

Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

Cite Feedback Print

Name

Ophiderpeton (Snake creeper).

Phonetic

O-phid-erp-e-ton.

Named By

Huxley - 1865.

Classification

Chordata, Amphibia, Lepospondyli, A�stopoda, Ophiderpetontidae.

Diet

Insectivore.

Species

O. granulosum, O. vicinum, O. pectinatum, O.zieglerianum

Size

70 centimetres long.

Known locations

U.S.A., Ohio, - Czech Republic.

Time Period

Early Carboniferous to Early Permian.

Fossil representation

Many examples have been preserved.

In Depth

       A limbless amphibian (aistopod), Ophiderpeton is believed to have lived in burrows from where it would hunt invertebrates. Ophiderpeton is well represented with specimens having up to 230 vertebrae. The skull has a reduced number of bones and the eyes face forward.

Further Reading

Further reading- On a Collection of Fossil Vertebrata, from the Jarrow Colliery, County of Kilkenny, Ireland. – Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy 24:351-370. – E. P. Wright & T. H. Huxley – 1871.- The a�stopod amphibian from the Vis�an of East Kirkton, West Lothian, Scotland. – Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences 84:363-368. – A. C. Milner – 1994.

Adopt A Species
prehistoric-wildlife new logo

Love this species?

Adopt it today!

(UPDATED!)

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

varanus priscus a.k.a Megalania