Ophiderpeton

Ophiderpeton Temporal range: Late Carboniferous
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Subclass:	Lepospondyli
Order:	Aïstopoda
Family:	Ophiderpetontidae
Genus:	Ophiderpeton
Species
O. granulosum O. amphiuminum O. nanum

Ophiderpeton is an extinct genus of lepospondyl amphibian from the Carboniferous period. Remains of this genus are widespread and were found in Ohio, USA and the Czech Republic (Central Europe).

An aïstopod, Ophiderpeton was snake-like, without any trace of limbs. Its body was about 70 centimetres (28 in) long, with 230 vertebrae. The skull measured 15 centimetres (5.9 in), and large, forward-facing eyes. It probably lived in burrows, feeding on insects, worms, millipedes, and snails.^[1]

References

1. ^ Palmer, D., ed (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 54. ISBN 1-84028-152-9. 

External links

• Ophiderpeton at Palaeos.com.

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