Yumenerpeton fossil map
Where fossils of Yumenerpeton have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 275 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 275 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 | 274.4–264.28 million years ago (Roadian to Wordian) |
| Periods | Permian |
| Family | Bystrowianidae |
| Named by | Jiang et al. 2017 |
| Fossil records | 1 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | China |
| Rock formations | Qingtoushan |
About Yumenerpeton
Yumenerpeton is an extinct genus of bystrowianid chroniosuchian discovered in the Qingtoushan Formation in Yumen City, Gansu Province, China.
Yumenerpeton is known from two specimens, GS-DSK-16, the holotype specimen, consisting of a near complete sacral vertebrae with a dermal scute, and GS-DSK-17, a pair of articulated dorsal vertebrae with scutes. The holotype specimen is notable in that it consists of, to date, the only known preserved sacral vertebrae of a bystrowianid (2017). The discovery of Yumenerpeton is significant evidence for the presence of chroniosuchians being present as early as the Middle Permian in China, as well as displaying features such as pectinate scutes previously unknown to exist in bystrowianids.
The genus is possessed of a single species, Yumenerpeton yangi. The species name honors the vertebrate paleontologist Yang Zhongjian.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Yumenerpeton (revision 1292691746), 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: Q125510384.
