Pederpes

Taxobox
name = Pederpes

---

image width = 200px
fossil_range = Middle Mississippian
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
superclassis = Tetrapoda
familia = Whatcheeriidae
genus = "Pederpes"
species = "P. finneyi"
binomial = "Pederpes finneyi"

"Pederpes" is an extinct genus of mid-Mississippian tetrapod. It had a large, somewhat triangular head, similar to that of "Whatcheeria". It is distinguished from "Whatcheeria" by various skeletal features, such as a spike-like latissimus dorsi (an arm muscle) attachment on the humerus and several minor skull features. "Pederpes" contains one species, "P. finneyi".

"Pederpes" is placed in the family Whatcheeriidae, of uncertain relationships to other tetrapod families. Under modern cladistic taxonomy, "Pederpes" is not considered an amphibian, but a very basal (primitive) tetrapod.

The fossils of "Pederpes" were found in the Ballagan Formation. The type specimen was a nearly complete, articulated skeleton. Only the tail and some bones of the skull and limbs were missing.

References

* [http://www.taxonomy.nl/taxonomicon/TaxonTree.aspx?id=193263 Taxonomicon entry for Pederpes]
* [http://www.taxonomy.nl/taxonomicon/TaxonTree.aspx?id=193264 Taxonomicon entry for P. finneyi]
* [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=2748430F33161F5551E1B1413B75910C.tomcat1?fromPage=online&aid=274126 Abstract of description]