Hynerpeton
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Hynerpeton bassetti Daeschler et al., 1994 |
Hynerpeton (hi-ner-pet-ton, meaning "Hyner's creeper") was a basal carnivorous tetrapod that lived in the Devonian period around 360 million years ago. Like many primitive tetrapods, it is sometimes referred to as an "amphibian", though it is not a true member of the class Amphibia. The Late Devonian saw the evolution of plants into trees and growing into vast forests pumping oxygen into the air, possibly giving Hynerpeton an edge because it evolved complex lungs to exploit it. Its lungs probably consisted of sacs like modern terrestrial vertebrates. Only a few bones have been found from Hynerpeton in Red Hill.
[edit] In popular culture
Hynerpeton is featured in the first episode of the 2005 documentary series Walking With Monsters. It was seen evolving from Cephalaspis (though this is incorrect), and then walking on land. Hynerpeton roared many times in the scene. It is unknown if basal tetrapods made any vocalizations.