Hynerpeton

Taxobox
name = "Hynerpeton"
fossil_range = Fossil range|360Late Devonian

---

image_width = 300px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
superclassis = Tetrapoda
genus = "Hynerpeton"
binomial = "Hynerpeton bassetti"
binomial_authority = Daeschler "et al.", 1994

"Hynerpeton" (IPAEng|haɪnɚpətɒn, meaning "creeping animal from Hyner") was a basal carnivorous tetrapod that lived in the lakes and estuaries of the Late Devonian period around 360 million years ago. Like many primitive tetrapods, it is sometimes referred to as an "amphibian", though it is not a true member of the class Amphibia. The Late Devonian saw the evolution of plants into trees and growing into vast forests pumping oxygen into the air, possibly giving "Hynerpeton" an edge because it evolved complex lungs to exploit it. Its lungs probably consisted of sacs like modern terrestrial vertebrates. Only a few bones have been found from "Hynerpeton", in Red Hill, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.. The known fossils include two shoulder girdles, two lower jaws, a jugal bone and some gastralia.

The structure of the shoulder girdle indicates this animal may have been one of the earlier, more primitive tetrapods to evolve during the Devonian. Information on the relationship of the known fossils of "Hynerpeton" to other Devonian tetrapods can be found in "Gaining Ground The Origin and Evolution of Tetrapods" by J.A. Clack.

It is thought that that these early amphibians are descended from lobe-finned fish, such as "Hyneria", whose stout fins evolved into legs and their swim bladder into lungs. It is still not known whether "Hynerpeton" is the direct ancestor to all later backboned land animals (including humans), but the fact that it had eight fingers, not five, suggests that it is simply our evolutionary cousin.

In popular culture

"Hynerpeton" is featured in the first episode of the 2005 documentary series "Walking With Monsters". It was seen fancifully and erroneously evolving from "Cephalaspis", and then walking on land. The "Hynerpetons" roared throughout the episode, though it is unknown if basal tetrapods were capable of making any vocalizations. One of the "Hynerpeton" meets a gruesome end when a predatory "Hyneria" fish ambushes it at the water's edge, shortly after a mating session with a female "Hynerpeton".

Sources

Tim Haines, and Paul Chambers. The Complete Guide to Prehistoric Life. Pg. 30-31. Canada: Firefly Books Ltd., 2006

ee also

* "Ichthyostega"
* "Acanthostega"

External links

* [http://www.devoniantimes.org/Order/re-hynerpeton.html "Hynerpeton" at Devonian Times]