In Depth Although only first described from a skull, Saharastega shows similarities to Nigerpeton, and together the two genera are considered to be primitive members of the Temnospondyli. As with its other relatives, Saharastega probably never strayed too far from water where they were best adapted to live and hunt, though most temnospondyl amphibians could … Read more
In Depth The holotype specimen of Altenglanerpeton was first found during the 1870s, and initially described as a specimen of the microsaur genus Microbrachis in 1939. The specimen was not renamed as a new genus until 2012 after some debate over whether the specimen was actually that of a microsaur. In life Altenglanerpeton would have … Read more
In Depth Koskinonodon was originally named as Buettneria back in 1922, however it was later realised that Buettneria had already been used to name a genus of katydid (bush cricket). In addition to this a species of Metoposaurus, M. bakeri was moved to create a new species of Koskinonodon, K. bakeri, in 1931. Additionally another … Read more
In Depth Peltobatrachus had an arrangement of bony armour plates that ran down the length of its body similar to an armadillo. Although it lived on the land, Peltobatrachus probably still had to return to water to lay its eggs like other amphibians. Further Reading Further reading- A new armoured amphibian from the Upper Permian … Read more
In Depth Cacops had many bony plates mainly concentrated along its back. These plates may have given it some protection from other terrestrial predators of the time. The large otic notch at the back of the skull suggests that Cacops had good hearing. Cacops itself was a predator, likely feeding upon invertebrates and smaller vertebrates. … Read more
In Depth Acheloma was a relatively large for its time temnopondyl amphibian that would have hunted for other small animals around the water systems of what would eventually be the United States back in the early Permian. This could include swimming around in the water to venturing on land for extended periods. Further Reading - … Read more
In Depth Benthosuchus has been considered to be a member of the Trematosauroidea (type genus Trematosaurus), but in more recent time the genus has also been considered to be a member of the Mastodonsauroidea (type genus Mastodonsaurus). However the primitive nature of Benthosuchus makes a confident assignment difficult to establish. Benthosuchus seems to have been … Read more
In Depth Aletrimyti is a genus of lepospondyl amphibian that lived in United States during the early Permian. Further Reading - Micro-CT Study of Rhynchonkos stovalli (Lepospondyli, Recumbirostra), with Description of Two New Genera. - PLoS ONE 10 (6): e0127307. - M. Szostakiwskyj, J. D. Pardo & J. S. Anderson - 2015.
In Depth Laccotriton was a genus of salamander that lived in China during the late Jurassic. Laccotriton does show a resemblance to the genus Sinerpeton. Further Reading - First Report of a Mesozoic Urodele from China. - Chinese Geology, v. 1, p. 247-248. - K. Q. Gao, Z, W, Cheng & X. Xu - 1998. … Read more
In Depth Anthracosaurus is believed to have been a member of the Embolomeri, a sub group of the reptilomorphs. So far only elements of the skull are known, but if Anthracosaurus had a body similar in form to it relatives like Archeria, then the body and tail would have been long and slender and up … Read more