Eogyrinus
Encyclopedia
Eogyrinus was one of the largest Carboniferous
tetrapods, and perhaps one of the largest of its family, Eogyrinidae
, at 4.6 metres (15.1 ft) in length.
Eogyrinus appears to have been a powerful swimmer that moved quickly through the water by swishing its long tail
from side to side. It may have been a predator, lying in wait for prey in much the same way as a modern crocodile
. Its lightly built 560 kilograms (1,234.6 lb) body might have allowed it to do a death-roll, like a crocodile. Although probably better at hunting in the water
, Eogyrinus could probably have also made a grab for prey passing close by on land.
Fossils of Eogyrinus are known from England
.
Carboniferous
The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Permian Period, about 299.0 ± 0.8 Mya . The name is derived from the Latin word for coal, carbo. Carboniferous means "coal-bearing"...
tetrapods, and perhaps one of the largest of its family, Eogyrinidae
Eogyrinidae
Eogyrinidae is an extinct family of large, long-bodied tetrapods that lived in the rivers of the Late Carboniferous period....
, at 4.6 metres (15.1 ft) in length.
Eogyrinus appears to have been a powerful swimmer that moved quickly through the water by swishing its long tail
Tail
The tail is the section at the rear end of an animal's body; in general, the term refers to a distinct, flexible appendage to the torso. It is the part of the body that corresponds roughly to the sacrum and coccyx in mammals, reptiles, and birds...
from side to side. It may have been a predator, lying in wait for prey in much the same way as a modern crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
. Its lightly built 560 kilograms (1,234.6 lb) body might have allowed it to do a death-roll, like a crocodile. Although probably better at hunting in the water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
, Eogyrinus could probably have also made a grab for prey passing close by on land.
Fossils of Eogyrinus are known from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.