Microbrachis
Extinct genus of tetrapods
| Microbrachis Temporal range: Late Carboniferous 307.1–302 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N | |
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| Fossil of Microbrachis pelikani | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | †Microsauria |
| Family: | †Microbrachidae Fritsch, 1883 |
| Genus: | †Microbrachis Fric, 1875 |
| Type species | |
| †Microbrachis pelikani Fric, 1875 | |
Microbrachis is an extinct genus of microsaurian tetrapod from the Carboniferous Kladno Formation of the Czech Republic.
Description
Microbrachis was an elongated, salamander-like creature, about 15 centimetres (6 in) long, with over 40 vertebrae instead of the average 15–26 in its living relatives. It had minute limbs, and probably swam using fish-like lateral body movements. Microbrachis probably fed on fresh water plankton such as shrimp. Microbrachis was pedomorphic, retaining its larval gills in adulthood. Similar traits are found in the extant axolotl.[1]
References
- ^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 55. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
Further reading
- Andrew R. Milner, "The Tetrapod Assemblage from Nýrany, Czechoslovakia", in Systematics Association Special Volume No.15, "The Terrestrial Environment and the Origin of Land Vertebrates", ed. by A. L. Panchen, 1980, pp. 439–496, Academic Press, London and New York
External links
- Microbrachis, The Type Microsaur (abstract)
Data related to Microbrachis at Wikispecies
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- See also: Batrachomorpha
- Lepospondyli
- Recumbirostra
- Tuditanomorpha
Category
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