Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
360 / Paleozoic
Microbrachis
Microbrachis pelikani
More than forty trunk vertebrae formed a long body with extremely small limbs.
View original image · 1600 × 1067- Time range
- About 307 million years ago
- Final stage
- Late Carboniferous
- Geographic range
- Coal-swamp ponds · Czech Republic
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Microbrachis?
Microbrachis (Microbrachis pelikani) was an extinct organism known from About 307 million years ago, with a range in Coal-swamp ponds · Czech Republic.
Life and ecology
It swam by undulating its body and tail through vegetation-rich water.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Microbrachis disappear?
Changing coal-swamp waters and lepospondyl turnover are possible context; a specific cause is not established.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Microbrachis?
Complete skeletons preserve the long trunk, tiny limbs and belly scales.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Rewrote an extinction cause that presented environmental or faunal turnover as established; it is now given as context the record does not prove.
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS