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Albanerpetontidae
The Albanerpetontidae are an extinct family of small amphibians, native to the Northern Hemisphere during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The only members of the order Allocaudata, they are thought to be allied with living amphibians belonging to Lissamphibia. Despite a superficially salamander-like bodyform, their anatomy is strongly divergent from modern amphibians in numerous aspects. The fossil record of albanerpetontids spans over 160 million years from the Middle Jurassic to the beginning of the Pleistocene, about 2.13-2 million years ago. History of Research The earliest specimen of an albanerpetontid to be discovered was that of ''Celtedens megacephalus'' from the Early Cretaceous (Albian) Pietraroja Plattenkalk of Italy, described by Oronzio Gabriele Costa in 1864, and originally placed in the genus ''Triton,'' a junior synonym of the salamander genus ''Triturus''. Jaw elements of albanerpetontids from the Cretaceous of North America were assigned to the salamander genus ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Albanerpeton
''Albanerpeton'' is an extinct genus of salamander-like lissamphibian found in North America and Europe, first appearing in Cretaceous-aged strata. There are eight described members of the genus, and one undiagnosed species from the Paskapoo Formation, with the most recent, ''A. ektopistikon'' being described by Carrano ''et al.''in 2022. Members of the genus had a robust head and neck which likely allowed them to actively burrow, characteristic of fossorial species, and they lived in a wide range of environments. This genus of amphibian was the last of its order, surviving until the late Pliocene in southern Europe, and into the Early Pleistocene (Gelasian) of northern Italy. It likely became extinct when the region developed its present Mediterranean-type climate, having preferred one that was cold and humid. The monophyly of ''Albanerpeton'' has recently been questioned History and Discovery Albanerpeton was first described by Estes and Hoffstetter in 1976. However, the genus ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amphibian
Amphibians are four-limbed and ectothermic vertebrates of the class Amphibia. All living amphibians belong to the group Lissamphibia. They inhabit a wide variety of habitats, with most species living within terrestrial, fossorial, arboreal or freshwater aquatic ecosystems. Thus amphibians typically start out as larvae living in water, but some species have developed behavioural adaptations to bypass this. The young generally undergo metamorphosis from larva with gills to an adult air-breathing form with lungs. Amphibians use their skin as a secondary respiratory surface and some small terrestrial salamanders and frogs lack lungs and rely entirely on their skin. They are superficially similar to reptiles like lizards but, along with mammals and birds, reptiles are amniotes and do not require water bodies in which to breed. With their complex reproductive needs and permeable skins, amphibians are often ecological indicators; in recent decades there has been a dramatic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shirerpeton
''Shirerpeton'' is an extinct genus of albanerpetontid amphibian from the Early Cretaceous Kuwajima Formation, which is located in Japan.Fujita, M. (2003). "Geological age and correlation of the vertebrate-bearing horizons in the Tetori Group". ''Memoir of the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum''. 2: 3–14. The type species is ''Shirerpeton isajii'', which was described by Masumoto & Evans in 2018. ''Shirerpeton'' represents the first record of Albanerpetontidae in East Asia and the holotype is SBEI 2459, a small block bearing most of a disarticulated but associated skull with some postcranial Postcrania (postcranium, adjective: postcranial) in zoology and vertebrate paleontology is all or part of the skeleton apart from the skull. Frequently, fossil remains, e.g. of dinosaurs or other extinct tetrapods, consist of partial or isolated s ... elements present as well. Phylogeny From Daza ''et al'' (2020): References {{Taxonbar, from=Q49000628 Albanerpetontidae Fossi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yaksha Perettii
''Yaksha perettii'' is an extinct species of albanerpetontid amphibian, and the only species in the genus ''Yaksha''. It is known from three specimens found in Cenomanian aged Burmese amber from Myanmar. The remains of ''Yaksha perettii'' are the best preserved of all albanerpetontids, which usually consist of isolated fragments or crushed flat, and have provided significant insights in the morphology and lifestyle of the group. Etymology The generic epithet is named after the Yaksha, a class of nature and guardian spirits in Indian religions, while the specific epithet honors Dr. Adolf Peretti, who provided some of the specimens, including the holotype. Discovery The paratype specimen was originally described in 2016 amongst a collection of fossil lizard species from Burmese amber, and was initially identified as a stem-chameleon. However Professor Susan E. Evans, a researcher who has extensively worked on albanerpetontids, recognised the specimen as belonging to the group. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Celtedens Megacephalus
''Celtedens'' is an extinct genus of albanerpetontid amphibian from the Early Cretaceous of England, Spain, Sweden and Italy, and the Late Jurassic of Portugal. Taxonomy * †''Celtedens ibericus'' McGowan and Evans 1995 La Huérguina Formation, Spain, Barremian * †''Celtedens megacephalus'' Costa 1864 Lulworth Formation, United Kingdom, Berriasian Pietraroja Plattenkalk, Italy, Albian * Indeterminate remains attributed to the genus are also known from the Late Jurassic Alcobaça Formation The Alcobaça Formation, previously known as the Guimarota Formation and also known as the Consolação Unit, is a geological formation in Portugal. It dates back to the Kimmeridgian stage of the Late Jurassic. It is an important source of inform ... of Portugal, as well as the earliest Cretaceous (Berriasian) of Sweden. Phylogeny From Daza et al. 2020. References Albanerpetontidae Prehistoric amphibian genera Cretaceous amphibians of Europe Jurassic amphibians of Europe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anoualerpeton
''Anoualerpeton'' is an extinct genus of lissamphibian in the family Albanerpetontidae. It is the oldest and most primitive albanerpetontid known. Fossils have been found of two different species, ''Anoualerpeton priscus'' from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) aged Forest Marble and Kilmaluag formations of England and Scotland, and ''Anoualerpeton unicus'' from Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous (Tithonian-Berriasian) Ksar Metlili Formation of Morocco. ''A. unicus'' is the only named albanerpetontid from Gondwana. Etymology The name "''Anoualerpeton''" is composed of Anoual, the name of a city in the eastern High Atlas (Morocco), in whose relative proximity the type material of the type species ''Anoualerpeton unicus'' was found, and the ancient Greek word ἑρπετόν herpeton, which means 'creeping animal" and is often used in the generic names of fossil amphibians. The epithets "priscus" and "unicus" mean 'old' and 'unique', which refers to the fact that ''Anoualerpeton'' '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Celtedens
''Celtedens'' is an extinct genus of albanerpetontid amphibian from the Early Cretaceous of England, Spain, Sweden and Italy, and the Late Jurassic of Portugal. Taxonomy * †''Celtedens ibericus'' McGowan and Evans 1995 La Huérguina Formation, Spain, Barremian * †''Celtedens megacephalus'' Costa 1864 Lulworth Formation, United Kingdom, Berriasian Pietraroja Plattenkalk, Italy, Albian * Indeterminate remains attributed to the genus are also known from the Late Jurassic Alcobaça Formation The Alcobaça Formation, previously known as the Guimarota Formation and also known as the Consolação Unit, is a geological formation in Portugal. It dates back to the Kimmeridgian stage of the Late Jurassic. It is an important source of inform ... of Portugal, as well as the earliest Cretaceous (Berriasian) of Sweden. Phylogeny From Daza et al. 2020. References Albanerpetontidae Prehistoric amphibian genera Cretaceous amphibians of Europe Jurassic amphibians of Europe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wesserpeton
''Wesserpeton'' is an extinct genus of albanerpetontid amphibian known from the Isle of Wight, southern England. Description ''Wesserpeton'' is known from the holotype NHMUK PV R36521, nearly complete fused frontals and from the referred materials NHMUK PV R36522–36568 and R36595–36611. All specimens were collected from seven localities of the Wessex Formation on the southeastern coast of the Isle of Wight of southern England. The type locality (Bed 38) is exposed at Yaverland while the rest (Bed L2) are exposed high in the cliff at Sudmoor Point but have yielded only NHMUK PV R36539, R36522 and R36553–36558. All specimens are dating to the Barremian stage of the Early Cretaceous. Etymology ''Wesserpeton'' was first named by Steven C. Sweetman and James D. Gardner in 2013 and the type species is ''Wesserpeton evansae''. The generic name is derived from ''Wess'', from Wessex, an ancient British kingdom which included the Isle of Wight, an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Prosiren
''Prosiren'' is an extinct genus of prehistoric amphibian in the family Prosirenidae. It was originally placed in the family Sirenidae. See also * Prehistoric amphibian * List of prehistoric amphibians This list of prehistoric amphibians is an attempt to create a comprehensive listing of all Genus, genera from the fossil record that have ever been considered to be amphibians, excluding purely vernacular terms. The list includes all commonly accep ... References Albanerpetontidae Cretaceous Texas Fossil taxa described in 1958 {{paleo-amphibian-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lissamphibia
The Lissamphibia is a group of tetrapods that includes all modern amphibians. Lissamphibians consist of three living groups: the Salientia (frogs, toads, and their extinct relatives), the Caudata (salamanders, newts, and their extinct relatives), and the Gymnophiona (the limbless caecilians and their extinct relatives). A fourth group, the Allocaudata, was moderately successful, spanning 160 million years from the Middle Jurassic to the Early Pleistocene, but became extinct two million years ago. For several decades, this name has been used for a group that includes all living amphibians, but excludes all the main groups of Paleozoic tetrapods, such as Temnospondyli, Lepospondyli, Embolomeri, and Seymouriamorpha. Some scientists have concluded that all of the primary groups of modern amphibians—frogs, salamanders and caecilians—are closely related. Some writers have argued that the early Permian dissorophoid '' Gerobatrachus hottoni'' is a lissamphibian. If it is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Walter Auffenberg
Walter Auffenberg ( – ) was an American biologist who spent almost 40 years in field research, studying reptile and amphibian paleontology and the systematics and biology of numerous reptile species, including alligators and Komodo dragons. Early life Auffenberg was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1928. After graduating high school, he relocated to DeLand, Florida to work on two small citrus groves owned by his parents. Shortly after, he enlisted in the US Navy and trained as a Hospital Corpsman in Corpus Christi, Texas. Upon his discharge he returned to Florida and attended Stetson University in DeLand, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Zoology in 1951. He moved to Gainesville, Florida to obtain his advanced degrees at the University of Florida. Academic life Auffenberg received his M.Sc. from the University of Florida in 1953 with his thesis A Study of Geographic Morphological Variation in the Blacksnake. He held a temporary position as Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Type Genus
In biological taxonomy, the type genus is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name. Zoological nomenclature According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearing type of a nominal family-group taxon is a nominal genus called the 'type genus'; the family-group name is based upon that of the type genus." Any family-group name must have a type genus (and any genus-group name must have a type species, but any species-group name may, but need not, have one or more type specimens). The type genus for a family-group name is also the genus that provided the stem to which was added the ending -idae (for families). :Example: The family name Formicidae has as its type genus the genus ''Formica'' Linnaeus, 1758. Botanical nomenclature In botanical nomenclature, the phrase "type genus" is used, unofficially, as a term of convenience. In the '' ICN'' this phrase has no status. The code uses type specimens for ranks up to fam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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