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Megalocephalus
''Megalocephalus'' (meaning "big head") is an extinct genus of baphetid animal from the late Carboniferous ( Westphalian A-C) of the British Isles and the United States (Ohio). It contains two species, ''M. pachycephalus'' and ''M. lineolatus''. History ''Megalocephalus pachycephalus'' ''Megalocephalus pachycephalus'' is one of the most common large amphibians from the Carboniferous of Britain, and is known from several sites in England, Scotland, and Ireland. The first known fossils of the genus were cranial fragments which were misattributed to ''Rhizodus'' jaw bones upon their discovery in 1864. These fragments, and many subsequent discoveries, were recovered from a quarry near Newsham, Northumberland. Other ''Megalocephalus'' fossils found in the 1860s had been referred to other large amphibians, namely '' Pteroplax and'' ''Anthracosaurus''. Two well-preserved skulls and associated jaw bones were found in Newsham in 1870 and 1871, though these were also mistakenly re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Baphetidae
Baphetidae is an extinct family of early tetrapods. Baphetids were large labyrinthodont predators of the Late Carboniferous period (Namurian through Westphalian) of Europe. Fragmentary remains from the Early Carboniferous of Canada have been tentatively assigned to the group. The phylogenetic relationships of baphetids is uncertain; while many studies have placed the group as a close relative of Amniota, other analyses have found Baphetidae to be a more basal clade of early stem tetrapods. Baphetids were among the first of the Carboniferous fossil tetrapods to be found and were originally described in 1850 by John William Dawson. The baphetids have been referred to the family Loxommatidae, but this group was later shown to be a junior synonym of Baphetidae, which was named earlier in 1865. Baphetids are known mainly from skulls; very little postcranial material has been found. Palaeobiology The presence of lateral lines and the long rows of needle-like teeth show that most were ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Loxommatid
Baphetidae is an extinct family of early tetrapods. Baphetids were large labyrinthodont predators of the Late Carboniferous period ( Namurian through Westphalian) of Europe. Fragmentary remains from the Early Carboniferous of Canada have been tentatively assigned to the group. The phylogenetic relationships of baphetids is uncertain; while many studies have placed the group as a close relative of Amniota, other analyses have found Baphetidae to be a more basal clade of early stem tetrapods. Baphetids were among the first of the Carboniferous fossil tetrapods to be found and were originally described in 1850 by John William Dawson. The baphetids have been referred to the family Loxommatidae, but this group was later shown to be a junior synonym of Baphetidae, which was named earlier in 1865. Baphetids are known mainly from skulls; very little postcranial material has been found. Palaeobiology The presence of lateral lines and the long rows of needle-like teeth show that mos ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kyrinion
''Kyrinion'' is an extinct genus of baphetid tetrapod from the Late Carboniferous of England. It is known from a skull that was found in Tyne and Wear county dating back to the Westphalian stage. Along with the skull is part of the lower jaw, an arch of the atlas bone (the vertebra that connects to the skull) and a rib possibly belonging to a cervical (neck) vertebra. The type species ''K. martilli'' was named from this material in 2003. Description The holotype skull of ''Kyrinion'' is well preserved with the back of the skull and both stapes, or ear bones, intact. The orbits, or eye sockets, are somewhat triangular in shape. Areas connecting the palate with the jaws and braincase make the skull inflexible. Lateral lines, used for sensory perception in aquatic environments, are present on the quadratojugal bone behind the eyes. The lower jaw lacks the distinctive features of some other baphetids, such as teeth on the parasymphysial plate, a piece of bone that overlies the d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Loxomma
''Loxomma'' (meaning “slanting eyes”) is an extinct genus of Loxommatinae and one of the first Carboniferous tetrapods. They were first described in 1862 and further described in 1870 when two more craniums were found. It is mostly associated with the area of the United Kingdom. They share features with modern reptiles as well as with fish. They had 4 paddle-like limbs that they used to swim in lakes, but they breathed air. Their diet consisted mostly of live fish. They are of the family Baphetidae which are distinguished by their keyhole shaped orbits, while ''Loxomma'' themselves are distinguished by the unique texture on their skulls, said to be honeycomb-like. History and discovery The genus ''Loxomma'' was discovered and named by Thomas Henry Huxley in 1862 via a near perfect cranium, a vertebra and a rib in the Lanarkshire coal-field of Scotland. The family Baphetidae were among the first Carboniferous tetrapods to be found and were first described by William Daw ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carboniferous
The Carboniferous ( ) is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic that spans 60 million years from the end of the Devonian Period million years ago (Mya), to the beginning of the Permian Period, million years ago. The name ''Carboniferous'' means "coal-bearing", from the Latin '' carbō'' (" coal") and '' ferō'' ("bear, carry"), and refers to the many coal beds formed globally during that time. The first of the modern 'system' names, it was coined by geologists William Conybeare and William Phillips in 1822, based on a study of the British rock succession. The Carboniferous is often treated in North America as two geological periods, the earlier Mississippian and the later Pennsylvanian. Terrestrial animal life was well established by the Carboniferous Period. Tetrapods (four limbed vertebrates), which had originated from lobe-finned fish during the preceding Devonian, became pentadactylous in and diversified during the Carboniferous, including early amphibian lin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anthracosaurus
''Anthracosaurus'' is an extinct genus of embolomere, a possible distant relative of reptiles that lived during the Late Carboniferous (around 310 million years ago) in what is now Scotland and England. It was a large, aquatic eel-like predator able to grow up to in length. It has a robust skull about in length with large teeth in the jaws and on the roof of the mouth. ''Anthracosaurus'' probably inhabited swamps, rivers and lakes. Its name is Greek for "coal lizard". The genus was named by Thomas Henry Huxley Thomas Henry Huxley (4 May 1825 – 29 June 1895) was an English biologist and anthropologist specialising in comparative anatomy. He has become known as "Darwin's Bulldog" for his advocacy of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. The stor ... when James Russell, a mining surveyor, sent him the first specimens. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Baphetes
''Baphetes'' is an extinct genus of tetrapod from the Pennine Coal Measures Group and Parrot Coal, England, the Joggins Formation of Nova Scotia, and the Kladno Formation of the Czech Republic. It was first named by Richard Owen in 1854. The type species is ''B. planiceps''. References External links ''Baphetes''in the Paleobiology Database The Paleobiology Database is an online resource for information on the distribution and classification of fossil animals, plants, and microorganisms. History The Paleobiology Database (PBDB) originated in the NCEAS-funded Phanerozoic Marine Paleo ... Baphetoids Carboniferous tetrapods Carboniferous tetrapods of Europe Paleozoic life of Nova Scotia Fossil taxa described in 1854 Taxa named by Richard Owen {{carboniferous-animal-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Temnospondyli
Temnospondyli (from Greek τέμνειν, ''temnein'' 'to cut' and σπόνδυλος, ''spondylos'' 'vertebra') is a diverse order of small to giant tetrapods—often considered primitive amphibians—that flourished worldwide during the Carboniferous, Permian, and Triassic periods. A few species continued into the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Fossils have been found on every continent. During about 210 million years of evolutionary history, they adapted to a wide range of habitats, including freshwater, terrestrial, and even coastal marine environments. Their life history is well understood, with fossils known from the larval stage, metamorphosis, and maturity. Most temnospondyls were semiaquatic, although some were almost fully terrestrial, returning to the water only to breed. These temnospondyls were some of the first vertebrates fully adapted to life on land. Although temnospondyls are considered amphibians, many had characteristics, such as scales and armour-like bo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Edopoidea
Edopoidea is a clade of primitive temnospondyl amphibians including the genus '' Edops'' and the family Cochleosauridae. Edopoids are known from the Late Carboniferous and Early Permian of North America and Europe, and the Late Permian of Africa. They are among the most basal temnospondyls, and possess a number of primitive features that were lost in later members of the group. Description Edopoids are relatively large temnospondyls, with many species estimated to have grown several meters in length. The skull of ''Edops'' is broad while those of cochleosaurids are narrower and elongated. Distinguishing features of edopoids include the presence of an intertemporal bone that is absent in all other temnospondyls, and the lack of a pineal foramen, a small hole on the skull roof of many early tetrapods (young individuals still possess this hole). Relative to other temnospondyls, edopoids also have enlarged premaxillae, maxillae, and nasal bones in the snout region, which constrict ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chimera (paleontology)
In paleontology, a chimera is a fossil that was reconstructed with elements coming from more than a single species or genus of animal. In other words they are mistakes or sometimes hoaxes made by paleontologists, putting together parts that do not come from the same organism. A now classic example of chimera is ''Protoavis''. List of paleontological chimeras * Archaeoraptor * ''Dalianraptor''? * ''Lametasaurus''? * ''Protoavis'' * Piltdown Man * ''Ultrasauros'' * ''Ornithopsis hulkei'' * Teihivenator * ''Dakotaraptor''? * ''Avalonianus'' * ''Kootenichela''? * ''Polacanthoides ''Polacanthoides'' (meaning ''Polacanthus like'') is an extinct genus of nodosauridae, nodosaurid dinosaur from Europe. It lived about 140 to 135 million years ago in what is now England. It was named by Nopsca in 1928. The type specimen is BMNH ...''?Nopcsa, F. (1928), "Palaeontological notes on reptiles." Geologica Hungarica, Series Palaeontologica, tomus, 1, -Pasc. 1, p. 1-84 References {{pa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
