Hynerpeton

Hynerpeton

• North America (Pennsylvania; Catskill Formation)

Hynerpeton (Greek: " creeping animal from Hyner " (a town in Pennsylvania)) was a primitive, probably carnivores amphibian that lived in the rivers and estuaries of the late Devonian. He is among the oldest found terrestrial vertebrates ( Tetrapoda ) and is about 360 million years old. His remains were found in the Catskill Formation in Pennsylvania.

So far, only shoulder bones, two jaw, a further part of the skull, as well as some ribs have been found. The shoulder bones were built relatively strong, and allowed Hynerpeton greater mobility on land and other primitive amphibians of Devon. Show features of Chleithrums ( part of the shoulder girdle ) that Hynerpeton probably no internal gills, like the fish, longer possessed, as opposed to about Acanthostega or Ichthyostega. Compared to other primitive amphibians ( about Densignathus ) of the jaw of Hynerpeton is built less strong, which allows basic conclusions about its diet. The differences could also be indicative of a niche division of the two animals.