Zatrachydidae
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Dasyceps |
The Zatrachydidae (also spelt Zatracheidae) are a family of late Carboniferous and Early Permian temnospondyl amphibians, known from North America and Europe. They are distinguished by lateral (sideways) bony protuberances of the quadratojugual bone of the skull, and a large opening in the palate. The skull is flattened, with small orbits set far back. The opening in the palate may have housed a gland for producing a sticky substance so that prey would adhere to the tongue. If so, this indicates that these animals spent a large part of their time on land.
[edit] References
- Carroll, R. L. (1988), Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution, W.H. Freeman & Co.
- Laurin. M and Steyer, J-S, (2000), Phylogeny and Apomorphies of Temnospondyls - Tree of Life project
- von Zittel, K.A (1932), Textbook of Paleontology, CR Eastman (transl. and ed), 2nd edition, vol.2, pp.210-1, Macmillan & Co.
