The reconstructed palate of Whatcheeria deltae indicates a skull that was unusually narrow: at least 2.2 times longer than wide if the pterygoids are conservatively placed in the horizontal plane. This maximum width is narrower than any other early tetrapod reconstructed so far. Rotating the pterygoids to produce a vaulted palate would produce an even narrower skull. Primitive palatal features include very narrow interpterygoid vacuities and a vomer, palatine, and ectopterygoid with fang-sized replacement pairs. It is derived in that there is no anterior palatal fenestra and the premaxilla has a substantial palatal shelf – a combination of characters shared only with Proterogyrinus among early tetrapods. There is a possible septomaxilla in one specimen. Whatcheeria differs from and is more derived than Pederpes, its likely sister taxon, in that only the pterygoid is covered with denticles, the vomer, palatine, and ectopterygoid containing labyrinthine teeth only. Reconstructed dental occlusion indicates that the large choana apparently accommodated the large dentary fangs; this would be a unique feature among early tetrapods. The palatal ramus of the pterygoid is longer than the quadrate ramus, which does not have a descending flange. Like Meckel's cartilage in the lower jaw, the palatoquadrate is fully ossified in larger specimens, such that in a posterior view of the skull the pterygoid is mostly hidden from sight by the epipterygoid. The ossified neurocranium consists of the basiparasphenoid and basioccipital; no ossified sphenethmoid has been found. Remains of otic capsules are partial, crushed, and smeared, so no useful morphology is available. The stapes appears to be more columnar and less plate-like than in many other primitive, early tetrapods.

The unique specimen of the Early Carboniferous lungfish Straitonia waterstoni is described in detail. As the only articulated lungfish currently described from the Viséan, it is of particular interest for lungfish evolution. It retains some plesiomorphic features of the skull, and shows some derived features in common with later Carboniferous forms. A thorough description is provided for future phylogenetic analyses. Straitonia has a number of diagnostic features. These include: a relatively narrow B-bone with a broad and curved anterior margin; an unpaired, parallel-sided C-bone whose margin is convex anteriorly; a B-bone approximately the same width as the single C-bone; the I-bones are relatively small compared with the B- and J-bones; the J-bones are tri-lobed; the XY bone is elongate along a posteromedial–anterolateral axis. Elongate fins dorsally and ventrally suggest a condition similar to those of later Carboniferous forms with confluent second dorsal, caudal and anal fins. It may thus be the earliest lungfish to show this condition. The ventral tail fin includes some fused elements, probably haemal and infrahaemal spines. The identity of one of the skull bones is discussed, and concluded to be a C-bone rather than a D-bone as previously described. The D-bone is absent, as in later Carboniferous forms. The history of the D-bone is considered.

Permineralised material of Rhacopteris lindseaeformis (Bunbury) Kidston and Spathulopteris obovata (Lindley & Hutton) Kidston, showing both external morphology and excellent anatomical preservation, is described from the Lower Carboniferous (?Asbian, Upper Viséan) tuffs and dolomitic ashes outcropping at Weaklaw–Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland. These specimens provide the first anatomical information on these two well-known plant compression genera. The rachises have Lyginorachis-type anatomy with distinctive characters in the two species. Spathulopteris rachises correspond to Lyginorachis kingswoodense Meyer-Berthaud, previously described from the localities of Kingswood and East Kirkton, whereas Rhacopteris shows similarities with the petiole attributed to Bilignea from Oxroad Bay. Both foliage types conform to seed-fern frond organisation. This new evidence contradicts previous interpretations of Rhacopteris as a fern or a progymnosperm. We suggest that Rhacopteris lindseaeformis and Spathulopteris obovata represent the foliage of some of the arborescent gymnosperms which are found associated in several contemporaneous localities.