Eryops (English spelling)

Japanese: エリオプス（英語表記）Eryops

A genus of primitive amphibians that lived in North America during the Permian period. Among the large labyrinthodont amphibians with robust skulls, Eryops is a representative animal that reached the pinnacle of evolution. It can reach a body length of about 2 meters. It has a sturdy build and a large, flattened skull. The large eyes and eye muscles are housed in large holes that open upward on both sides of the palate. The jaws and palate are lined with strong, pointed teeth. Not only did it have a powerful spine, but it also had sturdy shoulders and hips, and short but sturdy limbs, so it is thought to have been suited to life on land. However, its limbs were attached at an awkward angle to its torso, and it would have been difficult for the soft muscles of Eryops to lift its heavy body off the mud and walk, so it is presumed that it crawled through the mud. It seems that it lived in the swamps of Texas and other places, similar to today's crocodiles. Its skin had bony tubercles, which would have served as armor to protect it from predators. It was a large animal that likely fed on fish, other amphibians, and reptiles, and was probably the first animal to be able to make sounds.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

ペルム紀に北アメリカに生息していた原始両生類の一属。堅固な頭骨をもつ大型両生類の迷歯類のなかでも，特に進化の頂点に達した代表的動物である。体長約 2mにも及ぶ。体つきが頑丈で，大きな頭骨は扁平になっている。大きな眼球や眼筋が，口蓋の左右両側で上方に向かって開いている大きな孔に収まっている。顎と口蓋に，先のとがった強そうな歯が並んでいる。脊柱が強大であったばかりでなく，肩も腰もがっしりしており，四肢は短いが頑丈なので，陸上生活に向いていたと思われる。しかし，四肢は胴に対し不格好な角度でついており，エリオプスの柔らかな肢の筋肉では重い体を泥から離して持ち上げて歩くのは大変なことなので，泥の中をはうように進んだと推定される。テキサスなどの沼沢地で，今日のワニに似たような生活をしていたらしい。皮膚の中に骨性の結節があったので，皮膚は外敵から体を守る鎧（よろい）の役をしたであろう。体も大きく，魚やほかの両生類や爬虫類を餌としたと思われる。エリオプスはおそらく声を出すことのできた最初の動物であった。

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