Latiscopidae is an extinct family of
Triassic
The Triassic ( ; sometimes symbolized 🝈) is a geologic period and system which spans 50.5 million years from the end of the Permian Period 251.902 million years ago ( Mya), to the beginning of the Jurassic Period 201.4 Mya. The Triassic is t ...
temnospondyl
Temnospondyli (from Greek language, Greek τέμνειν, ''temnein'' 'to cut' and σπόνδυλος, ''spondylos'' 'vertebra') or temnospondyls is a diverse ancient order (biology), order of small to giant tetrapods—often considered Labyrinth ...
s. It was first described in 1940 based on a fossil skull found in Texas. It includes small sized temnospondyls that are thought to have engaged in burrowing and seasonal
aestivation
Aestivation ( (summer); also spelled estivation in American English) is a state of animal dormancy, similar to hibernation, although taking place in the summer rather than the winter. Aestivation is characterized by inactivity and a lowered m ...
. Members of the group had wedge shaped skulls that are thought to have assisted in burrowing.
References
Trematosauria
Temnospondyl families
{{Temnospondyli-stub