Ophiderpeton

Ophiderpeton (from Greek: ὄφῐς óphis, 'snake' and Greek: ἑρπετόν herpetón 'creeper')^[1] is an extinct genus of aistopod tetrapodomorphs from the early Carboniferous to the early Permian. Remains of this genus are widespread and were found in Ohio, United States, Ireland, and the Czech Republic (Central Europe).

Ophiderpeton Temporal range: Early Carboniferous–Early Permian, 345.3–294.6 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Life restoration of O. brownriggi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Order:	†Aistopoda
Family:	†Ophiderpetontidae Schwarz, 1908
Genus:	†Ophiderpeton Huxley, 1866
Species
†O. granulosum †O. brownriggi †O. kirktonense †O. amphiuminum †O. nanum †O. vicinum †O. pectinatum †O. zieglerianum

Like other aistopods, Ophiderpeton was snake-like, without any trace of limbs. Its body was about 70 centimetres (28 in) long, with 230 vertebrae. The skull measured 15 millimetres (0.59 in), and large, forward-facing eyes, suggesting a hunting lifestyle. It probably lived in burrows, feeding on insects, worms, millipedes, and snails.^[2][3]

Many species are classified in the genus, and similar animals, Phlegethontia and Sillerpeton, are known. An earlier genus, Lethiscus, is known from the Carboniferous and Early Permian.