Produced by the Population Genetics and Evolution class, Furman University

Eryops
Eryops is an early amphibian typical of the temnospondyl group, a large creature that grew to be around 5 feet long and 200 pounds (Virtual Fossil Museum 2010). It had a particularly large head relative to its body size, measuring to about 2 feet (Wikipedia 2009). Eryops was believed to inhabit swamps, and was one of the largest land animals of the Permian (Virtual Fossil Museum 2010). Eryops represents an important step in evolutionary history, marking the gradual transition animals made from water to land. A stronger, thicker bone structure allowed Eryops to support its weight and venture onto land (Pilgrim 2004). Lungs allowed them to breathe air, but as their rib cages could not expand to draw in air, they likely moved the floor of their mouths up and down to pump air into the lungs (Pilgrim 2004). Eryops also had a rudimentary ear evolved from vestigial fish jawbones—they could hear airborne sound (Pilgrim 2004). Although the fossils indicate that Eryops had significant muscle development, they were not fast creatures on land or in the water; their bodies were low from the ground, and they had thick, short limbs and tails (Wikipedia 2009). Instead, as the positions of their eyes and nostrils suggest, they used stealth to hunt prey (Wikipedia 2009).

Page by LinLin Zhao

Eryops fossil. Photo from www.palaeos.com

Pilgrim T. 2004. Temnospondyli: Euskelia. www.palaeos.com. Accessed March 15, 2010.

Virtual Fossil Museum. 2010. Eryops. www.fossilmuseum.net. Accessed March 15, 2010.

Wikipedia. 2009. Eryops. Accessed March 15, 2010.