Type Micrerpeton caudatum Moodie.
The genus Micrerpeton, of which the single species is described below, was the first evidence of the occurrence of the Branchiosauria in America. There have been three other genera referred to the Branchiosauria from North American deposits, but there is good evidence that none of them belong there. The genus Amphibamus was originally referred to the Xenorhachia by Cope ([105, pp. 134-137]) on account of the supposed cartilaginous condition of the vertebræ and the absence of ribs. Later he abandoned this order and placed the form in the Branchiosauria, where it was retained by Zittel ([642]). Recently Hay has shown ([316]), and I am able to corroborate his statement, that ribs are present in the species, and that they are long and curved, not at all like the short ribs of the true Branchiosauria. These long, curved ribs undoubtedly exclude Amphibamus from the Branchiosauria and indicate its close affinities with the Microsauria. The genus Pelion has also been referred to this order on purely negative evidence ([642, p. 375]). This genus is excluded from the Branchiosauria by the well-ossified condition of the limb bones, in which the endochondral ossification is seen to be well developed, a condition not found, so far, among the true Branchiosauria. The form of the head and the elongate hind limb would also tend to exclude the genus from the Branchiosauria. In the Branchiosauria the fore limb is usually larger than the hind limb, the reverse of which is the case in Pelion. The genus Sparodus, as it occurs in North America, is uncertain. It is indicated by remains which are almost impossible of determination.
The genus Micrerpeton may be distinguished from other known Branchiosauria by the large size and anterior position of the orbits, absence of a posterior table to the skull, the short, heavy limb bones, the slender ilium, and the expanded, elongate, and laterally compressed tail. The genus may be defined as follows: Small forms, the known representative attaining a length of less than 2 inches; head broad and short; sclerotic plates present; interorbital space less than the least diameter of the orbit; occiput concave; pineal foramen in the line which cuts the posterior edge of the orbits; teeth small, pleurodont denticles; presacral vertebræ 20 or 21, of which probably 5 are cervical; 1 sacral; ribs short, straight, and heavy, central; scapula ovoid; limbs stumpy and heavy, fore limb exceeding the hind in size; endochondral ossifications distinctly absent; tail long, expanded, and flattened, probably provided with a thin expanded membrane; body covered with minute, ovoid or rounded scales which are ornamented with concentric lines; color markings vertical to the long axis of the body and abundantly present on the tail; lateral-line organs represented by the dorsal and median lateral lines on the tail, the sensory pits probably occurring in specialized darkened scales. Coal Measures of Mazon Creek shales near Morris, Grundy County, Illinois.
Micrerpeton caudatum Moodie.
Moodie, Jour. Geol., 17, p. 39, figs. 1-6, 1909.
Type: Specimen No. 12,313, Walker Museum, University of Chicago.
Horizon and locality: Mazon Creek shales, near Morris, Illinois.
The species is represented by very complete remains ([plate 2]), which are preserved on opposite halves of a nodule. The specimen was collected many years ago by Mr. W. F. E. Gurley at Mazon Creek, but it has never before been studied, although Dr. Newberry examined it and said in a note that Professor Cope should see it. Unfortunately Cope did not see it and it lay unknown for more than a quarter of a century. I am indebted to Dr. Stuart Weller for calling my attention to the specimen, as well as for the privilege of describing it.
The specimen is exceptionally perfect ([plate 25, fig. 4]). Nearly all the skeletal elements are present, and the general contour of the body, the character of the dermal covering, the color-markings, the lateral-line system, and many other features of interest have been detected. Such completeness of preservation is very uncommon even among the remains obtained from this locality. In this case the entire form was preserved, but the collector, in cracking the nodule, lost the chips containing the feet, so that only portions of the limbs remain. It is thus impossible to determine the phalangeal formula, but the feet were probably like those of Branchiosaurus amblystomus Credner, as given by Credner, to which species the present form is closely allied and indeed must be placed in the same family with Branchiosaurus, Pelosaurus, and Melanerpeton.
MOODIE