Apateon

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Apateon
Temporal range: Gzhelian–Asselian
Branchiosauridae - Apateon pedestris.JPG
Fossil of Apateon pedestris
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Temnospondyli
Family: Branchiosauridae
Subfamily: Branchiosaurinae
Genus: Apateon
von Meyer, 1844

Apateon is an extinct order of temnospondyl amphibian within the family Branchiosauridae.

Contents

Species

Fossil record

Fossils of Apateon are found in freshwaters strata of Latest Carboniferous (Gzhelian) to Early Permian (Asselian) of Germany. [1] [2]

Description

Fossils of A. pedestris in the Naturmuseum Senckenberg Apateon pedestris 2.jpg
Fossils of A. pedestris in the Naturmuseum Senckenberg

These amphibians could reach a length of about 5–12 centimetres (2.0–4.7 in), while the length of the skull could reach 8–24 millimetres (0.31–0.94 in). They resembled a salamander and had a laterally flattened tail with a long fin. The body was completely covered with rounded scales. The portion of the skull behind the eyes was quite short. On opposite sides of the head there are three pairs of long, spiral-shaped external gills. They had a weakly ossified skeleton and a wide, short skull, with huge eye holes. The teeth were small and peaked. On the hands are present four fingers. [3]

Biology and lifestyle

Apateon were sexually mature in the larval state, with the retention by adults of traits seen in the young (neoteny). This fully aquatic animal lived in semi-permanent lakes and ponds. They fed on microorganisms. However, in exceptionally harsh environmental conditions, the species A. gracilis engaged in cannibalism. [4]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. Paleobiology Database
  2. Schoch, Rainer R.; Milner, Andrew R. (2008). "The intrarelationships and evolutionary history of the temnospondyl family branchiosauridae". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 6 (4): 409–431. doi:10.1017/S1477201908002460. ISSN   1477-2019.
  3. Boy, J.A. (1972): Die Branchiosaurier (Amphibia) des saarpfalzischen Rotliegenden (Perm, SW-Deutschland). Abhandlungen des hessischen Landesamtes für Bodenforschung 65: 1-137.
  4. Witzmann, Florian (20 February 2009). "Cannibalism in a small growth stage of the Early Permian branchiosaurid Apateon gracilis (Credner, 1881) from Saxony". Fossil Record. 12 (1): 7–11. doi: 10.1002/mmng.200800006 . Retrieved 27 May 2024 via Wiley Online Library.