Melanerpeton fossil map
Where fossils of Melanerpeton 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 | 303.7–259.857 million years ago |
| Periods | Carboniferous, Permian |
| Family | Branchiosauridae |
| Named by | Fritsch 1878 |
| Fossil records | 14 occurrences at 14 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Czech Republic, Germany |
| Rock formations | Meisenheim, Vrchlabi, Oberhof, txn:37037, Ilmenau, Goldlauterer |
About Melanerpeton
Melanerpeton is an extinct genus of prehistoric amphibian that lived during the Permian approximately 285 million years ago in what would become Europe. Several species have traditionally been placed in the genus Melanerpeton but subsequently transferred to other genera. In their 2026 description of M. kuselense, Schoch and colleagues questioned the affinities of "M." arnhardti, "M." humbergense, and others, suggesting that these required restudy due to many distinct features between them and the type species, M. pusillum.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Melanerpeton (revision 1364114619), 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: Q6811218.
