Branchiosauridae

Branchiosauridae
Temporal range: Pennsylvanian–Wordian
Fossil of Branchiosaurus salamandroides in the Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Temnospondyli
Clade: Amphibamiformes
Family: Branchiosauridae
Fritsch, 1879.[1]
Genera

Branchiosauridae is an extinct family of small amphibamiform temnospondyls with external gills and an overall juvenile appearance. The family has been characterized by hundreds of well-preserved specimens from the Permo-Carboniferous of Middle Europe.[2] Specimens represent well defined ontogenetic stages and thus the taxon has been described to display paedomorphy (perennibranchiate). However, more recent work has revealed branchiosaurid taxa that display metamorphosing trajectories.[3] The name Branchiosauridae (“Branchio” in Ancient Greek denoting gills and “saurus” meaning lizard) refers to the retention of gills.

  1. ^ Fritsch. 1879. Fauna der Gaskohle und der Kalksteine der Permformation Böhmens. Vol. 1, part 1. Selbstverlag: Prague.
  2. ^ Schoch, R.R. 2008. The intrarelationships and evolutionary history of the temnospondyl family branchiosauridae. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 6(4):409-431.
  3. ^ Schoch, R.R. and Frobisch, N.B. 2006. Alternative Pathways in an Extinct Amphibian Clade. Evolution. 60(7):1467-1475