Microbrachis

Microbrachis Temporal range: Late Carboniferous, 307.1–302 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Fossil of Microbrachis pelikani
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Batrachomorpha
Subclass:	†Lepospondyli
Order:	†"Microsauria"
Family:	†Microbrachidae Fritsch, 1883
Genus:	†Microbrachis Fric, 1875
Type species
†Microbrachis pelikani Fric, 1875

Microbrachis ('small arm') is an extinct genus of lepospondyl amphibian from the Carboniferous period of what is now the Czech Republic.

Life restoration of Microbrachis pelikani

Microbrachis was an elongated, salamander-like creature, about long, with over 40 vertebrae instead of the average 15-26 in its living relatives. It had minute limbs, and probably swam using fish-like lateral body movements. Microbrachis probably fed on fresh water plankton such as shrimp. Microbrachis was pedomorphic, retaining its larval gills in adulthood. Similar traits are found in the extant axolotl.

References

• Andrew R. Milner, "The Tetrapod Assemblage from Nýrany, Czechoslovakia", in Systematics Association Special Volume No.15, "The Terrestrial Environment and the Origin of Land Vertebrates", ed. by A. L. Panchen, 1980, pp.439-496, Academic Press, London and New York

External links

• Microbrachis, The Type Microsaur (abstract)