Firmors

Firmors are an extinct genus of large anthracosaurian tetrapods that lived during the Middle to Late Carboniferous period, approximately 310-300 million years ago. They were part of the group Anthracosaurs, which represents a transitional group between reptiles and amphibians.

Physical characteristics of Firmors include their medium to large size, typically ranging between 2-4 meters in length. They were likely semi-aquatic animals, with robust forelimbs and strong neck and body muscles. Their limbs were adapted for semi-aquatic life, with advanced digit bones and webbed feet. Firmors' skulls were broad and flat, with a short, rounded snout.

Fossil evidence suggests that Firmors were cursorial tetrapods, with evidence of burrowing and terrestrial locomotion. They were well-adapted to their environment, with both terrestrial and aquatic adaptations. Some researchers have interpreted Firmors as likely predators, given their robust limbs and semi-aquatic lifestyle.

Firmors were first described in the early 20th century, with the genus encompassing several subspecies and species. Some of these species have since been reclassified or reevaluated, but Firmors remains an important group in the understanding of early tetrapod evolution. Further research, including detailed analyses of fossil morphology and paleoecological contexts, is necessary to refine our understanding of Firmors and its place within the context of Carboniferous tetrapod evolution.

Present day knowledge of Firmors is primarily based on fossil finds in Europe and North America, with the largest collections found in the Carboniferous deposits of Scotland, Wales, and the United States.