Description

Early Permian

Arroyo Formation

Haskell County, TX, USA

Fine 11mm tooth.

Amphibian.

Eryops is a genus of amphibian of the Order Temnospondyli and was one of the largest amphibians (5-10 feet long) of the Permian Period.  Its well-ossified skeleton and large limbs are indicators that it had a more terrestrial lifestyle than its ancestors.  These kinds of adaptations were seen among some other amphibians as climates became drier across the Permian.

Temnospondyls survived the end-Permian extinction even as most other amphibians disappeared.  They managed to survive into the Cretaceous.