Ophiderpeton

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Ophiderpeton
Fossil range: Late Carboniferous

Conservation status
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Subclass: Lepospondyli
Order: Aïstopoda
Family: Ophiderpetontidae
Genus: Ophiderpeton

Ophiderpeton is an extinct genus of lepospondyl amphibian from the Carboniferous period. It was about 70 cm (2 ft 4 in) long. Remains of this genus are widespread and were found in Ohio, USA and the Czech Republic (Central Europe).

An aïstopod, Ophiderpeton lacked any trace of limbs and looked like a snake. Its body had 230 vertebrae and a 15 cm (6 in) skull with large eyes that were positioned in the front. Paleontologists presume it lived in burrows, feeding on insects, worms, millipedes and snails.

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