| Ophiderpeton | |
|---|---|
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| Life restoration ofO. brownriggi | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Sarcopterygii |
| Clade: | Tetrapodomorpha |
| Order: | †Aistopoda |
| Family: | †Ophiderpetontidae Schwarz, 1908 |
| Genus: | †Ophiderpeton Huxley, 1866 |
| Species | |
Ophiderpeton (fromGreek:ὄφῐςóphis, 'snake' andGreek:ἑρπετόνherpetón 'creeper')[1] is an extinct genus ofaistopodtetrapodomorphs from the earlyCarboniferous to the earlyPermian. Remains of this genus are widespread and were found inOhio, United States,Ireland, and theCzech Republic (CentralEurope).
Like other aistopods,Ophiderpeton was snake-like, without any trace of limbs. Its body was about 70 centimetres (28 in) long, with 230vertebrae. The skull measured 15 millimetres (0.59 in), and large, forward-facingeyes, suggesting a hunting lifestyle. It probably lived in burrows, feeding oninsects,worms,millipedes, andsnails.[2][3]
Many species are classified in the genus, and similar animals,Phlegethontia andSillerpeton, are known. An earlier genus,Lethiscus, is known from theCarboniferous and EarlyPermian.
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