What is Westlothiana?
Q: What is Westlothiana?
A: Westlothiana is an early tetrapod with a mixture of amphibian and early amniote characters.
Q: What does the body shape of Westlothiana resemble?
A: The body shape of Westlothiana had a superficial resemblance to modern-day lizards.
Q: When did Westlothiana live?
A: Westlothiana lived during the Carboniferous period, about 350 million years ago.
Q: Where was the type specimen of Westlothiana discovered?
A: The type specimen of Westlothiana was discovered in East Kirkton Quarry, Bathgate, Scotland in 1984.
Q: What is the significance of Westlothiana in the study of evolution?
A: Westlothiana is a transitional fossil, providing evidence of the evolution from amphibians to early amniotes.
Q: Why was Westlothiana named what it is?
A: Westlothiana was named after the County of West Lothian where it was found.
Q: How does the discovery of Westlothiana contribute to the field of paleontology?
A: The discovery of Westlothiana provides insights into the diversity of life during the Carboniferous period and helps to fill gaps in the evolutionary history of tetrapods.