FOSSILS SPECIMEN: AMPHIBIANS

Fossils are defined as any evidence of prehistoric life. There are two types of fossils: Body Fossils include remains of skeletal bones, shell, carapace, test and teeth. Trace Fossils are clues the organism existed such as foot prints, tracks, burrows and coprolites (fossil dung).

The term Amphibian comes from the Greek word “amphibios” meaning “to live a double life” in reference to the stages of their life cycle. Amphibians are more advance then lob finned fish by having lungs and legs. The first Amphibians appear during the Late Devonian some 370 million years ago and persist to this day. All amphibians lay eggs in water and the young undergo metamorphosis from larva with gills to air breathing adults, most of which have lungs. To see my amphibian fossils click here.

Domain: Eukarya – Kingdom: Animalia – Phylum: Chordata – Class: Amphibians

(Frogs, Salamanders, and Caecilians)

Late Devonian to Holocene

Kingdom: Animalia – Phylum: Chordata – Class: Amphibian – Order: Temnospondyli – Family: Eryopidae

(Genus: Eryops)

Late Carboniferous to Early Permian

Eryops Lower Jaw

Early Permian

Seymour, Texas, United States

Eryops Vertebrae

Early Permian

Seymour, Texas, United States

Eryops Femur

Early Permian

Seymour, Texas, United States

Eryops Radius and Carpal

Early Permian

Seymour, Texas, United States

Kingdom: Animalia – Phylum: Chordata – Class: Amphibian – Order: Lepospondyli

(Genus: Diplocaulus)

Early Permian

Diplocaulus Skull (3D Print)

Early Permian

Seymour, Texas, United States

Kingdom: Animalia – Phylum: Chordata – Class: Amphibian

(Eryops, Diplocaulus, Trimerorhachis, plus others-etc…)

Late Carboniferous to Early Permian

Amphibian Skull Bones

Early Permian

Archer County, Texas, United States