Keraterpeton

Keraterpeton; Temporal range: Late Carboniferous
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subclass:	†Lepospondyli
Order:	†Nectridea
Family:	†Diplocaulidae
Genus:	†Keraterpeton; Etheridge, 1866
Species
	K. galvani (type);

Keraterpeton is an extinct genus of lepospondyl amphibian from the Carboniferous period of Europe ( Czech Republic ) and North America ( Ohio ).

Restoration of Keraterpeton and other Permian amphibians by J. Smit

Keraterpeton was a salamander-like creature about 30 centimetres (12 in) long. Its tail was remarkably long taking up two thirds of the animal's total length, and was laterally flattened, presumably to aid in swimming. Its skull was round and short, especially when compared to its Permian relative, Diplocaulus. Its hind legs had five toes, and were longer than the forelimbs, which had only four toes.^[1]

Although Keraterpeton had a long body, it did not have more vertebrae than most other amphibian species (15–26 on average).

References[]

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

Description[]

The Keraterpeton was flattened side-ways, which would have helped push itself through the murky waters of the coal swamps in which it lived. The five-toed hind legs were longer than the four-toed fore-feet and the short, rounded skull had eyes set far forward.

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

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