FNR 24150 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Eryops, Permian, Ichthyostega

• School: Purdue University
• Department: Forestry & Natural Resources
• Course: FNR 24150
• Professor: Dr.Christie

Document Summary

Origin of amphibians: salamanders, frogs, and caecilians: lissamphibia- subclass that includes all living amphibians (anura, caudata, and. Gymnophiona: temnospondyli- is a diverse subclass of extinct small to giant tetrapods often considered primitive amphibians that flourished worldwide during the carboniferous, Why land: unexploited food resources: aquatic habitat niches occupied, lack of large terrestrial predators: largely primitive plants and invertebrates, low oxygen in warm water, unlimited oxygen on land. Jurassic (200-146 mya): albanerpeton (extinct salamander-like) and eocaecilia (extinct gymnophionan) Carboniferous (359-299 mya) - split of amphibians and reptiles. Amphibians phylogeny: sarcopterygian ancestor- story of tetrapods start here! Gave rise to coelacanth and rhipidistians: late devonian. Origin of salamanders: ancestral species: tiktaalik- late devonian (375 mya) Most remarkable feature: front paired fins with wrist-like structure. Spiracles (primitive nostrils): lungs as well as gills. 1st tetrapod with proper neck enabling greater flexibility: ichthyostega- late devonian (370 mya, eryops- permian (270 mya, diplocaulus- middle to late devonian (230-240 mya)