The postcranial skeletal anatomy of the carboniferous tetrapod Greererpeton burkemorani Romer, 1969

Abstract The discovery of well-preserved skeletal remains of Greererpeton burkemorani Romer, 1969, from the Upper Mississippian at Greer, West Virginia, has prompted a redescription of its postcranial skeletal anatomy. The vertebrae are rhachitomous, more specifically schizomerous. The presacral count is approximately 41. Neural arch elements of the atlas-axis complex consist of paired pro- and atlas arches and a relatively massive axis arch. All presacral vertebrae appear to have borne short, gently curved ribs, most of which developed a flange or stiletto-like uncinate process. The sacral rib is long. In adults, the scapulocoracoid and the dermal pectoral girdle are large and well ossified. The ascending iliac blade is undivided and the pubis is poorly ossified. A cladistic analysis indicates that Greererpeton burkemorani shares a more recent common ancestor with the anthracosaur Proterogyrinus scheelei than it does with either Crassigyrinus scoticus or Ichthyostega sp.