Balanerpeton is an extinct genus of temnospondyl amphibian from the Visean stage of the Early Carboniferous period. It reached approximately 20 inches in size. Balanerpeton woodi was discovered by Stanely Wood and is the earliest and most common tetrapod in the East Kirkton Quarry assemblage of terrestrial amphibians in Scotland. Characteristics of Balanerpeton woodi include the presence of large external nares, large interpterygoid vacuities (holes in the back of the palate), and an ear with a tympanic membrane and rod-like stapes. Numerous studies and research regarding ontogeny in non-extant taxa have been orientated around this taxon. The morphology of the stapes suggests that the animal was capable of hearing high-frequency sound. Balanerpeton woodi does not possess lateral line sulci