Araeoscelidia

Araeoscelidans
Temporal range: CarboniferousPermian 302–275.6 Ma
Life restoration (top) and skull reconstruction (bottom) of Petrolacosaurus kansensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Diapsida
Order: Araeoscelidia
Williston, 1913
Genera

Araeoscelidia or Araeoscelida is a clade of extinct amniotes (traditionally classified as diapsid reptiles) superficially resembling lizards, extending from the Late Carboniferous to the Early Permian. The group contains the genera Araeoscelis, Petrolacosaurus, the possibly aquatic Spinoaequalis, and less well-known genera such as Kadaliosaurus and Zarcasaurus. This clade is usually considered to be the sister group to all (currently known) later diapsids.