Tuesday 3 December 2013

Eocaecilia micropodia

Caecilians formed a group of limbless, mostly fossorial amphibians that lived in the tropical regions of Asia, Africa and South America. The fossil record of caecilians is extremely scarce. Eocaecilia from the Early Jurassic of Arizona is the earliest known Caecilian and also the most complete one. Among primtive features, Eocaecilia retains tiny limbs that have completely disappeared in modern species.

Name
Eocaecilia micropodia
Authority
Jenkins and Walsh, 1993
Meaning of generic name
Dawn Caecilian
Meaning of specific name
small feet
Size
Skull length: 12.6 mm, Length: 15 cm
Remains
Complete skeleton
Age and Distribution
Early Jurassic Kayenta Formation, Cononino County, Arizona.
Classification
Lissamphibia Gymnophiona Eocaeciliaidae
Further Reading
Jenkins, FA & DM Walsh (1993), An Early Jurassic caecilian with limbs. Nature 365: 246-250.
Creationist comment
Agreeing with evolutionists that limbs can disappear through mutations.
Image by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)
Eocaecilia micropodia:

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