Eryops megacephalus Fossil Skeleton

$15,600.00

Eryops megacephalus, the fossils of which are found mainly in early Permian (about 295 million years ago) rocks of the Texas Red Beds, located in Archer County, Texas. Fossils have also been found in late Carboniferous period rocks from New Mexico. Several complete skeletons of Eryops have been found in lower Permian rocks.

Description

Eryops megacephalus Fossil Skeleton Replica measures 5.5 feet or 1.68m. The Eryops megacephalus Fossil Skeleton is Museum quality polyurethane cast made in USA. Complete Skeleton is mounted and requires crating. Please call 509-951-3557 for shipping. Our precise skeleton can be used as a teaching tool, museum skeleton exhibit, home décor skeleton, or office décor skeleton.

Eryops megacephalus meaning long eye or drawn-out eye in Greek was a common, primitive labyrinthodontid amphibian that lived in Permian period swamps. This meat-eater had a stout body with very wide ribs, a strong spine, four short, strong legs, a short tail, and a wide, elongated skull with many sharp teeth. Its teeth had enamel with a folded pattern.

Eryops megacephalus was about 5 feet long, one of the largest land animals of its time. Eryops megacephalus was a fierce predator on land and in the water. This specimen is from the Wichita Basin, Texas. Lower Permian, (270 million years ago).

The skeleton of Eryops megacephalus was much more strongly built and sturdy than related temnospondyls. The limbs were especially large and strong. The pectoral girdle was highly developed, with a larger size for increased muscle attachments.

Most notably, the shoulder girdle was disconnected from the skull, resulting in improved terrestrial locomotion. The upper portion of the girdle had a flat scapular blade, with the glenoid cavity situated below performing as the articulation surface for the humerus, while ventrally there was a large flat coracoid plate turning in toward the mid-line.

The pelvic girdle also was much larger than the simple plate found in fishes, accommodating more muscles. Eryops megacephalus extended far dorsally and was joined to the backbone by one or more specialized sacral ribs.

The hind legs were somewhat specialized in that they not only supported weight, but also provided propulsion. The dorsal extension of the pelvis was the ilium, while the broad ventral plate was composed of the pubis in front and the ischium behind.

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Additional information

Weight 10 lbs
Dimensions 66 in
Eryops Facts:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: †Temnospondyli
Family: †Eryopidae
Genus: †Eryops
Species: †E. megacephalus
Conservation Status: Extinct -Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species.
Binomial name: †Eryops megacephalus
Conservation Status: Extinct -Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species.