Eocaecilia micropodia

Caecilians formed a group of limbless, mostly fossorial amphibians that lived in the tropical regions of Asia, Africa and South America. The fossil record of caecilians is extremely scarce. Eocaecilia from the Early Jurassic of Arizona is the earliest known Caecilian and also the most complete one. Among primtive features, Eocaecilia retains tiny limbs that have completely disappeared in modern species.

Name

Eocaecilia micropodia

Authority

Jenkins and Walsh, 1993

Meaning of generic name

Dawn Caecilian

Meaning of specific name

small feet

Size

Skull length: 12.6 mm, Length: 15 cm

Remains

Complete skeleton

Age and Distribution

Early Jurassic Kayenta Formation, Cononino County, Arizona.

Classification

Lissamphibia Gymnophiona Eocaeciliaidae

Further Reading

Jenkins, FA & DM Walsh (1993), An Early Jurassic caecilian with limbs. Nature 365: 246-250.

Creationist comment

Agreeing with evolutionists that limbs can disappear through mutations.

Image by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

Eocaecilia micropodia: