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Ophiderpeton
Fossil range: Late Carboniferous
Ophiderpeton BW
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.

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