Erpetosaurus fossil map
Where fossils of Erpetosaurus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 300 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 300 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early tetrapods & amphibians |
|---|---|
| Lived | 309.8–307.4 million years ago (Moscovian) |
| Periods | Carboniferous |
| Named by | Cope 1874 |
| Fossil records | 3 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | txn:NF |
About Erpetosaurus
Erpetosaurus is an extinct genus of dvinosaurian temnospondyl within the family Eobrachyopidae. Erpetosaurus is only known from the Upper Freeport Coal, Allegheny Group, Middle Pennsylvanian of Linton, Ohio, USA. Some unique features of the temnospondyls are that they have a single fang on each premaxilla on the anterior maxilla for the reception of two dentary fangs; and an elongate, tube-like backside extension of the parasphenoid, both hinting to an aquatic hunting lifestyle.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Erpetosaurus (revision 1354842956), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q5395451.
