Balanerpeton

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Balanerpeton
Fossil range: Carboniferous

Conservation status

Fossil

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Temnospondyli
Genus:	Balanerpeton

Balanerpeton is an extinct genus of Temnospondyl amphibian. Balanerpeton woodi was discovered by Stanley Wood and is the earliest and most common tetrapod in the East Kirkton assemblage of terrestrial amphibians in Scotland. Characteristics of Balanerpeton woodi include the presence of large external nares, large interpterygoid vacuities and an ear with a tympanic membrane and rod-like stapes ^[1]. The morphology of the stapes suggests that the animal was capable of hearing high-frequency sound. B. woodi does not possess lateral line sulci or an ossified branchial system. The principle method of respiration was probably buccal (gulping air through mouth) rather than costal (expanding chest volume to take in air), indicated by the small straight ribs.