Limnoscelidae

Limnoscelids
Temporal range: Late Carboniferous–Early Permian
Limnoscelis, the nominal genus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: †Diadectomorpha
Family: †Limnoscelidae
Williston, 1911
Genera

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Limnoscelidae is a family of carnivorous diadectomorphs. They would have been the largest terrestrial carnivores of their day, the other large carnivores being aquatic or semi aquatic labyrinthodont amphibians. The Limnoscelidae themselves, being close to the ancestry of amniotes, would have been well adapted land animals, but still dependent on anamniote eggs, and possibly having a tadpole stage.[1] Contrary to the more advanced herbivorous diadectids, the teeth retained labyrinthodont infolding of the enamel, and were pointed and slightly recurved at the tip.[2]

  1. ^ Carroll R.L. (1991): The origin of reptiles. In: Schultze H.-P., Trueb L., (ed) Origins of the higher groups of tetrapods — controversy and consensus. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, pp 331-353.
  2. ^ Carroll, R.L. (Sep 1967). "A Limnoscelid Reptile from the Middle Pennsylvanian". Journal of Paleontology. 41 (5): 1256–1261. JSTOR 1302096.