Amphibian
Apateon pedestris
Apateon pedestrisApateon pedestris was a delicate, salamander-like temnospondyl that populated freshwater lakes and pond systems across late Carboniferous and early Permian Europe. These miniature amphibians retained external gills well into maturity, swimming through calm shallows where they plucked tiny crustaceans and larvae from the water column. Exceptionally detailed fossils from lacustrine shales frequently preserve their dense body contours, skeletal structures, and carbonized branchial plumes.
FossilPrehistoricAquatic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyOstracods, Conchostracans, Aquatic insect larvae
Predators
- Sclerocephalus
- Xenacanthid sharks
- Archegosaurus
ThreatsPrehistoric climate shifts, lake desiccation, and larger predators
HabitatsFreshwater lakes, swampy lagoons, and calm river basins
Life spanUnknown (estimated 3–8 years)
Classification
- FamilyBranchiosauridae
- SpeciesApateon pedestris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct species known only from fossils; completely harmless to observe.
Responsible observation
- Fossil Viewing: Use raking light across lacustrine shale slabs to highlight fine bone details.
- Museum Exploration: Seek out Permian displays in natural history museums to view articulated slabs.
Predator Dr. Günter Bechly / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableCompetitor 
Predator Gasmasque / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
Close Relative Nobu Tamura (http://spinops.blogspot.com) / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
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