Chapter II: Preface

The question of the origin of land vertebrates, which has appealed so strongly to students of fossil Amphibia, is by no means solved from the material furnished by the Coal Measures of North America. The Amphibia are, however, well known from several localities in the Coal Measures of this continent, where skeletons have been recovered which are sufficiently well preserved to afford a fair knowledge of their anatomy. The specimens rescued from the dumps of the old mines are regrettably few in comparison with the number that must have been burned as fuel, or carried down the slopes as silt. Yet scanty as is the material thus collected, it is of great importance, because it represents such an early period in the recorded history of the air-breathing vertebrates.

The amphibian fauna in the Coal Measures of North America is represented by several hundred individual specimens, preserved in various museums. All of the collections have been available in the preparation of this memoir, with the exception of those species from Nova Scotia which are preserved in the Peter Redpath Museum of McGill University and in the British Museum of Natural History. The European material, which has been used in comparisons with the American forms, has been studied chiefly from the literature, although there have been available a series of specimens of _Branchiosaurus amblystomus_ Credner, from Saxony, presented by the late Professor Credner, and a single specimen of _Archegosaurus_ from Dr. von Huene, of Tübingen.

The collection which has been of the greatest value is that at the American Museum of Natural History, chiefly assembled by Dr. J. S. Newberry from the dumps of the coal mines at Linton, Ohio, while he was in charge of the Ohio Geological Survey (1869-1884). This collection, a part of which is at Columbia University, furnished Cope with the most of his type material for the "Synopsis of the Extinct Batrachia from the Coal Measures" (123).[A] This entire collection, including all of Professor Cope's types and representing many new and hitherto undescribed forms, was generously placed at the writer's disposal for a period of five years through the kindness of Dr. Bashford Dean and Dr. Louis Hussakof. Dr. Hussakof made a trip through the Linton region and his description of the place occupied by the "Old Diamond Mine" is given on page 16.

[Footnote A: The numbers in parentheses refer to the bibliography at the end of this volume.]

An interesting collection of air-breathing vertebrates from the Coal Measures, representing 19 species, is in the U. S. National Museum (464). This is chiefly the collection of Mr. R. D. Lacoe and includes specimens from Mazon Creek, Illinois, from Kansas, and from Linton, Ohio. It is especially important in that it contains the skeleton (plate 20, fig. 3) of _the oldest known reptile_, _Eosaurus copei_ Williston (Jour. Geol., XVI, 295). It contains also, besides many of Cope's types, new forms which have been described by the writer (464, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 478, 479). Dr. Stuart Weller first secured the use of this collection for me, and its continued use has been granted by Dr. C. D. Walcott. Mr. Charles Gilmore has called my attention to several interesting specimens and has kindly loaned them for description.

A small but interesting collection of Mazon Creek Amphibia is that of the Peabody Museum of Yale University. Through the courtesy of the officers of this museum the writer was permitted to study these specimens and was given a grant for their illustration. The results of that study are contained in a previous paper (478) and in the present memoir. Dr. Schuchert has offered suggestions as to the environmental conditions of the ancient Amphibia.

A few specimens of Coal Measures Amphibia are at the Walker Museum, University of Chicago. This collection includes the type of _Micrerpeton caudatum_ Moodie, the first branchiosaur discovered in the western hemisphere, and a few specimens from Linton, Ohio.

A single specimen of _Amphibamus grandiceps_ Cope, very beautifully preserved, is in the possession of Mr. L. E. Daniels, of Rolling Prairie, Indiana. This specimen has been studied and described by Hay (316) and by the writer (462, 469, 478).

The works of Cope and Dawson, published between 1860 and 1897, on the Amphibia from the Coal Measures, have been indispensable in the present study. It has been necessary to rely on the published descriptions and photographs of the interesting fauna from Nova Scotia, since it has not been possible for me to visit and examine the types preserved in the Peter Redpath Museum of McGill University and in the British Museum of Natural History. It has been possible to check Dawson's work, to a certain extent, by a study of a series of excellent photographs of the types of Coal Measures Amphibia collected by Dawson and Lyell and described by Dawson and Owen. The descriptions of these authors have been drawn on for the discussion of the Canadian forms.

The descriptions given below have been made full and complete in the belief that in this way our knowledge of these interesting vertebrates may be advanced. Many of the species have been described elsewhere in scattered papers by various authors. These descriptions have been revised and verified and are collected here in monographic form. The work is a morphologic and taxonomic revision of the Amphibia from the Coal Measures of North America. Especial attention has been paid to the factors which have been most active in the evolution of the group, so far as these factors may be interpreted. It is the author's hope that this review may open up the field for many more workers, since we are just beginning to learn about the evolution of this group of vertebrates.

The trustees of the Elizabeth Thompson Science Fund allotted a grant for the present investigation. This aid has enabled the writer to present his work in much better form than would have been possible otherwise. Dr. S. W. Williston has offered many suggestions and criticisms which have been gratefully adopted. It is with the greatest sense of pleasure that the author dedicates this memoir to his teacher and friend. After the manuscript was completed the author enjoyed a visit from Mr. D. M. S. Watson, of King's College, London, whose knowledge of the European and African forms enabled him to offer several very valuable suggestions.

It is fitting also to express my indebtedness to the Carnegie Institution of Washington for the privilege of publishing my work in the series of monographs contributed by Dr. E. C. Case, dealing with the anatomy and relationships of the early land vertebrates of North America.

Roy Lee Moodie.

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

Prefatory Note iii

Preface vi

List of Illustrations viii-x

CHAP.

I. The Problem of the Amphibia from the Coal Measures 3-5

II. History of the Discovery of Amphibia in the Coal Measures 6-8

III. Stratigraphic and Geographic Distribution of Amphibia in
the Coal Measures of North America 9-22

IV. The Morphology of the Coal Measures Amphibia 23-36

V. The Amphibia of the Devonian and Mississippian of North
America 37-38

VI. A History of the Classification of the Amphibia, With
Especial Reference to the Species from the Coal Measures 39-45

VII. Classification of Amphibia Adopted in This Work, and a List
of the Coal Measures Amphibia from North America 46-48

VIII. Definition of the Class Amphibia, the Subclass Euamphibia,
and the Order Branchiosauria 49-50

IX. The American Coal Measures Branchiosauridæ 51-66

X. The Order Caudata 67-71

XI. The Order Salientia 72-74

XII. The Subclass Lepospondylia, the Order Microsauria, and
the Group Aistopoda 75-77

XIII. The Microsaurian Family Hylonomidæ, from the Coal Measures
of Nova Scotia 78-84

XIV. The Microsaurian Family Tuditanidæ, from the Coal Measures
of Ohio and Pennsylvania 85-111

XV. The Microsaurian Family Stegopidæ, from the Coal Measures
of Ohio 112-114

XVI. The Microsaurian Family Urocordylidæ, from the Coal
Measures of Nova Scotia 115-125

XVII. The Microsaurian Family Amphibamidæ, from the Coal Measures
of Mazon Creek, Illinois 136-134

XVIII. The Microsaurian Family Nyraniidæ, from the Coal Measures
of Ohio 135-138

XIX. The Aistopodous Microsaurian Family Ptyoniidæ, from the
Coal Measures of Ohio 139-146

XX. The Microsaurian Family Molgophidæ, from the Coal Measures
of Ohio and Mazon Creek, Illinois 147-154

XXI. The Microsaurian Family Sauropleuridæ, from the Coal
Measures of Ohio 155-170

XXII. The Microsaurian Family Ichthycanthidæ, from the Coal
Measures of Ohio 171-174

XXIII. Supposed Microsaurian Species of Uncertain Relationship 175-177

XXIV. The Temnospondylous Amphibia from the Coal Measures of
North America 178-197

XXV. The Stereospondylous Amphibia from the Coal Measures of
North America 198-201

Bibliography of the Fossil Amphibia, With Especial
Reference to the Amphibia from the Coal Measures of
North America 202-217

An Index to the Bibliography of Fossil Amphibia 218-219

Index 220-222

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PLATES.

PAGE.

1. Views along Mazon Creek, Illinois 12

2. Drawing of type specimen of Micrerpeton caudatum Moodie, from
the Coal Measures of Mazon Creek 52

3. Specimens of Eumicrerpeton parvum, Erpetobrachium mazonensis,
Erierpeton branchialis, Mazonerpeton longicaudatum, and
Amphibamus grandiceps 58

4. (1 and 2) Vertebræ of Spondylerpeton spinatum Moodie.
(3) Type specimen of Mazonerpeton costatum Moodie.
(4) Type skeleton of Cephalerpeton ventriarmatum Moodie.
(5 and 6) The halves of the nodule containing a practically
complete skeleton of Amphibamus grandiceps Cope 60

5. (1) A reconstruction of the Coal Measures branchiosaurian,
Eumicrerpeton parvum Moodie, a small primitive salamander 64

(2) A restoration of the branchiosaurian, Mazonerpeton, based on
two specimens 64

6. Dendrerpeton acadianum Owen. Mandibles, parts of anterior
extremities, humerus, etc. 68

7. Hylerpeton dawsoni Owen. Mandible, teeth, rib, and bones of
anterior extremity. Bones of pelvis and posterior limb and
bony scales 72

8. Fritschia curtidentata Dawson. Bones of skull and anterior
extremity, bony rods of belly, of pelvis, and posterior
extremity 76

9. Hylonomus lyelli Dawson. (1) maxillæ and skull bones;
(1_a_) sternal bones; (2) mandible; (3) humerus, ribs,
and vertebræ; (4) posterior limb; (5) pelvis; (6) caudal
vertebræ 78

10. Hylonomus latidens Dawson. Skull, portion of skeleton, foot,
scapular, and sternal bones, humerus and rib, believed to
belong to this species. Erect tree, Coal formation, of Nova
Scotia 80

11. Hylerpeton longidentatum Dawson. Mandible and other bones. Erect
tree, Coal formation 82

12. Smilerpeton aciedentatum Dawson. Mandible, portions of skull,
scales, and various bones. Erect tree, Coal formation 82

13. Dendrerpeton oweni Dawson. Skull, mandible, and bones of
anterior limbs, posterior limb, pelvic, and bony scales 100

14. (1 and 2) Amphibamus grandiceps Cope, from the Mazon Creek shales 106
(3) Sauropleura (Colosteus) scutellata Newberry, from the Linton
Coal Measures, the first known of the Ohio Coal Measures
Amphibia; at first ascribed by Newberry to the fishes, but
later correctly identified by Cope 106
(4) Type of Diceratosaurus (Ceraterpeton) punctolineatus Cope,
from the Linton Coal Measures 106

15. (1) Dorsum of skull of Diceratosaurus punctolineatus (Cope),
from the Coal Measures of Linton, Ohio 114
(2) Ventral surface of skull of Diceratosaurus punctolineatus
(Cope), from the Coal Measures of Linton 114
(3) Pectoral girdle of Diceratosaurus punctolineatus (Cope),
from the Coal Measures of Linton 114
(4) Cervical or anterior dorsal vertebra of Diceratosaurus
punctolineatus (Cope), from the Linton Coal Measures 114

16. (1) Type specimen of Diceratosaurus punctolineatus Cope 116
(2) Skull of Sauropleura longidentata Moodie, from the Coal
Measures of Linton, Ohio 116
(3) Mandible of Sauropleura longidentata Moodie, from the Coal
Measures of Linton, Ohio 116
(4) Type specimen of Sauropleura enchodus Cope, from the Coal
Measures of Linton, Ohio 116
(5) Additional specimen of Diceratosaurus punctolineatus Cope,
from the Coal Measures of Linton, Ohio 116

17. Type of Saurerpeton latithorax Cope 126

18. (1) Type of Erpetosaurus sculptilis Moodie, from the Cannelton
Shales of Pennsylvania 132
(2) Skeletal elements of Eryops sp. indet., from the Pittsburgh
Red Shale at Pitcairn 132
(3) Amphibian footprints, Dromopus aduncus Branson, from the
Mississippian shales of Giles County, Virginia 132
(4) Type of Thinopus antiquus Marsh, amphibian footprint from
the Devonian of Pennsylvania 132

19. Type of Ctenerpeton alveolatum Cope, from the Coal Measures
of Ohio 134

20. (1) Skull of Erpetosaurus minutus Moodie, from the Cannelton
slates of Pennsylvania 154
(2) Skull and anterior part of body of Ptyonius pectinatus Cope,
from the Coal Measures of Linton 134
(3) Skeleton of Eosauravus copei Williston, from the Coal
Measures of Linton. "The oldest known reptile from
North America" and closely related structurally to the
Microsauria 134
(4) Part of ventral scutellation and ribs of Sauropleura digitata
Cope, from the Coal Measures of Linton 134

21. (1) Mandible of Macrerpeton deani Moodie, from the Linton Coal
Measures 136
(2) Portion of the skull of Macrerpeton deani Moodie, possibly
of the same: individual us the mandible. From the Linton
Coal Measures 136
(3) Type of Cercariomorphus parvisquamis Cope, from the Linton
Coal Measures 136
(4) An additional specimen of Cercariomorphus parvisquamis Cope,
from the Linton Coal Measures 136
(5) Skull of Sauropleura scutellata Newberry. From the Coal
Measures of Ohio 136
(6) Tooth of Mastodonsaurus sp. indet. of the Carboniferous of
Kansas 136
(7) Tooth of Mastodonsaurus giganteus Jaeger, from the Triassic
of Germany. Introduced for comparison with the tooth from
the Kansas Carboniferous 136

22. (1) Type of Leptophractus lineolatus Cope, from the Coal Measures
of Linton. Portions of maxilla and mandible of left side
with teeth 160
(2) Type of Proterpeton gurleyi Moodie, from the Coal Measures
of Illinois, near Danville. Cervical of an otherwise
unknown amphibian 160
(3) Amphibian phalanx from the Coal Measures near Breeze,
Illinois, of an unknown species 160
(4) Large rib of a stereospondylous stegocephalan, otherwise
unknown 160
(5) Type of Cope's species Tuditanus mordax referred by him to
the cranium, on account of the sculpturing of the elements,
now known to be portions of the interclavicle and clavicles
of Diceratosaurus punctolineatus 160
(6) Skull of Baphetes planiceps Owen, from the Coal Measures of
Nova Scotia 160

23. (1) Ventral scutellæ of Ctenerpeton alveolatum Cope, from the
Coal Measures of Ohio 166
(2) Left leg and pelvis of Ichthycanthus platypus Cope, from the
Coal Measures of Ohio 166

24. (1) Type specimen of Pelion lyelli Wyman, from the Coal Measures
of Ohio. Supposed to represent the ancestral form of the
Salientia 172
(2) Scales of Cercariomorphus parvisquamis Cope, a microsaur
from the Ohio Coal Measures 172
(3) Type specimen of Cercariomorphus parvisquamis Cope 172

25. (1) Photograph of type specimen of Erpetosaurus (Tuditanus)
radiatus Cope, from the Coal Measures of Linton 180
(2) Photograph of type specimen of Erpetosaurus tabulatus Cope,
from the Coal Measures of Linton 180
(3) Photograph of the impression of Stegops divaricata Cope,
from the Coal Measures of Linton 180
(4) Type and only known specimen of Micrerpeton caudatum Moodie,
a branchiosaur from the Coal Measures shales of Mazon Creek 180

26. (1) Type specimen of Erpetosaurus tuberculatus Moodie, from the
Ohio Coal Measures 182
(2) Type of Macrerpeton huxleyi Cope, from the Coal Measures
of Ohio 182

TEXT-FIGURES.

1. Map of the Coal Measures in North America 9

2. Distribution of Coal Measures Amphibia in North America 11

3. Topographical Map of Mazon Creek Region 13

4. Topographical Map of Linton, Ohio, Region 16

5. Fossil Tree Trunk in Position 21

6. Generalized Amphibian Skull 23

7. Alimentary Canal of a Carboniferous Salamander 26

8. Vertebræ and Ribs of Coal Measures Amphibia 28

9. Ventral Scutellæ of Micrerpeton 30

10. Horny Armor of Hylonomus 31

11. The Skulls of two Microsaurians: A, Eoserpeton tenuicorne;
B, Ceraterpeton galvani 33

12. Devonian Footprint 37

13. Restoration of Micrerpeton 53

14. Mazon Creek Amphibia: A, Eumicrerpeton parvum;
B, Amphibamus thoracatus 59

14_a_. Skeleton of Mazonerpeton longicaudatum 62

14_b_. Skeleton of Mazonerpeton costatum 64

15. A. Impression of Erierpeton branchialis 65
B. Eumicrerpeton parvum 65
C. Larger Specimen of Eumicrerpeton parvum 65
D. Skeleton of Erpetobrachium mazonensis 65
E. Rib of Mazonerpeton costatum 65

15_a_. Type Material of Sparodus 66

16. Obverse of Cocytinus gyrinoides 68

16_a_. Nearly Complete Specimen of Cocytinus gyrinoides 69

17. Pelion lyelli, supposed ancestral Salientian 74

18. Skeletal Elements of Smilerpeton aciedentatum 82

19. Skull and Skeleton of Tuditanus punctulatus 87

20. Skull and Skeleton of Tuditanus longipes 90

21. Skeleton of Tuditanus walcotti: A, Body; B, Leg 94

22. A. Outline of Skull and Cranial Elements of Erpelosaurus minutus
Moodie, from the Cannelton Slates of Pennsylvania 99
B. Outline of Skull and Cranial Elements of Erpetosaurus radiatus
Cope, from the Coal Measures of Linton 99
C. Palate of Erpetosaurus (tabulatus?), from the Coal Measures of
Linton, Ohio 99
D. Outline of Skull and Cranial Elements of Erpetosaurus
acutirostris Moodie, from the Coal Measures of Linton, Ohio 99
E. Outline of Larger Part of Skeleton of Odonterpeton triangularis
Moodie, from the Coal Measures of Linton, Ohio 99
F. Right Mandible of Erpetosaurus tabulatus Cope, from the Linton,
Ohio, Coal Measures 99
G. Skull Elements and Lateral-line Canals of Erpetosaurus
tabulatus Cope, from the Coal Measures of Linton 99

23. Skull of Stegops divaricata 113

24. Microsaurian Skulls from Linton, Ohio: A, Diceratosaurus lævis;
B, Diceratosaurus robustus 119

25. Restoration of Eoserpeton 124

26. Restoration of Amphibamus 128

27. Skeleton of Amphibamus grandiceps 129

28. Probable Appearance of Amphibamus 130

29. Skeleton of Cephalerpeton 133

30. Restoration of Ptyonius 140

31. Restoration of Œstocephalus 144

32. Vertebræ of Molgophis brevicostatus 148

33. Fore-limb of a Member of the Molgophidæ, Possibly Pleuroptyx 152

34. A. Interclavicle of Sauropleura pauciradiata 159
B. Left Clavicle of Sauropleura pauciradiata 159

35. Skull and Skeleton of Saurerpeton latithorax 164

36. Mandible of Leptophractus dentatus 169

37. So-called Interclavicle of Eurythorax sublævis 170

38. Skeletal Elements of Amblyodon 177

39. Vertebra of Spondylerpeton spinatum 179

40. Mandible of Macrerpeton deani 184

41. Vertebræ of Eosaurus acadianus: A, Oblique Lateral View;
U, Oblique View; C, Posterior View; D, Transverse
Section; E and F, Microscopic Sections 188

42. Skull and Mandible of Eobaphetes kansensis: A, Outer View of
Mandible; B, Portion of Skull; C, Inner Surface of Mandible 191

43. Footprints of Dromopus agilis 200

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THE COAL MEASURES AMPHIBIA
OF NORTH AMERICA

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