Ophiderpeton

Ophiderpeton Fossil range: Late Carboniferous
Scientific classification
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. It was about 70 cm (2 ft 4 in) long. Remains of this genus are widespread and were found in Ohio, USA and the Czech Republic (Central Europe).

An aïstopod, Ophiderpeton lacked any trace of limbs and looked like a snake. Its body had 230 vertebrae and a 15 cm (6 in) skull with large eyes that were positioned in the front. Paleontologists presume it lived in burrows, feeding on insects, worms, millipedes and snails.

External linksEdit

• Ophiderpeton at Palaeos.com.