The "Red Beds" of this part of the southern United States contains many amphibian and reptile fossils dating from the Lower Permian period, about 280 milion years ago. Fossils include the amphibian Eryops, the reptiles Labidosaurus, Cotylorhynchus and Edaphosaurus and the strange creature Seymouria an animal that displays both characteristics of both amphibians and reptiles.