Named By: | Edward Drinker Cope in 1877 |
Time Period: | Pennsylvanian-Cisuralian, 300-295 Ma |
Location: | USA |
Size: | 1.5 - 2 meters long |
Diet: | unavailable |
Fossil(s): | Several skeletons, skull is often preserved due to its strong build |
Classification: | | Chordata | Amphibia | Temnospondyli | Eryopoidea | Eryopidae | |
Eryops meaning "drawn-out face" because most of its skull was in front of its eyes (Greek eruein, eryein = drawn-out + ops, ops = face) is a genus of extinct, amphibious temnospondyls. It contains the single species Eryops megacephalus, the fossils of which are found mainly in early Permian (about 295 million years ago) rocks of Archer County, Texas, but have also been found in late Carboniferous period rocks from New Mexico. Several complete skeletons of Eryops have been found in lower Permian rocks, but skull bones and teeth are its most common fossils.