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The earliest forms of amphibians evolved from lobe-finned fish in the Devonian Period, around 350 million years ago. These fish had strong, bony fins that allowed them to drag themselves on land, and some of them developed lungs for breathing air. These two adaptations were very helpful in their freshwater environments that were often stagnant and dried out. Eventually the bony fins of these fish evolved into limbs that became better suited for terrestrial locomotion over time. Early amphibians still spent most of their lives in water and always had to lay their soft eggs in water.

One of the earliest and most well known ancestors of amphibians (and all tetrapods in general) is a lobe-finned fish called Eusthenopteron. Although it never actually went on land, it still had four fins with bone structures homologous to all modern tetrapods, and also had internal nostrils and enfolded enamel found on primitive labyrinthodont amphibians.

Another important transitional form is Tiktaalik, who is an important link in the transition between lobe-finned fish and tetrapods. By the structure of its jointed fins, which contain wrist bones, it was probably one of the first fish to crawl on land. However, it only did so under certain circumstances and still spent almost all of its time in water. It had both gills and primitive lungs, and had a flattened head shaped like that of an amphibian's.

The earliest amphibians include Acanthostega and Icthyostega. Their primitive limbs contained digits, but were still poorly adapted for moving efficiently on land. Yet it was a good start, and they would be succeeded by labyrinthodonts such as Tulerpeton and Eryops, who are the ancestors of true amphibians.

The first modern amphibians emerged in the Carboniferous Period and had all the adaptations necessary to make them suitable for living both in water and on land. Amphibians became the dominant terrestrial vertebrates through most of the Carboniferous until they are replaced by their descendants, the reptiles.

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Related Questions

Were flying reptiles the first amphibians?

No. Reptiles and amphibians are two different orders and animals and amphibians cam first. Simply put, the first amphibians evolved from fish and the first reptiles evolved from amphibians.


Where amphibians evolved from?

reptiles


What came before the fish amphibians reptiles and dinosaurs?

Fish, reptiles, and amphibians, originated in that order during the Paleozoic era.


What animals do most scientist think reptiles evolved?

Most scientists believe that reptiles evolved from amphibians, specifically from ancient creatures known as early reptiliomorphs. These early tetrapods adapted to a more terrestrial lifestyle, eventually giving rise to reptiles.


Which group of fish do scientists believe amphibians evolved from?

Lobe-finned fishes are though to have given rise to amphibians. This is due to the body plan and body symmetry of the fish, which is very similar to that of an amphibian.


What type of animal evolved out of water?

AMPHIBIANS


Did amphibians and mammals descend from reptiles?

Reptiles evolved from a group of reptiliomorph amphibians in the Carboniferous period. Mammals evolved from a groupof synapsidreptiles in the Jurassic period.


What evolved from amphibians to survive farther in water?

Reptiles


Animals that evolved from a species of amphibians?

I think you are looking for reptiles.


What family is the lizard from?

lizards are a group of reptiles that evolved from amphibians.


Which animals evolved from lungfish?

Amphibians are believed to have evolved from the lineage of lungfish during the Devonian period. This transition from aquatic to terrestrial life marked a significant step in the evolution of vertebrates.


How did reptiles appear on earth?

They evolved from amphibians during the Carboniferous Period.