Limnoscelidae

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]

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

See text

Taxonomy

Two species assigned to the only genus of the family.

  • Limnoscelis (two species) is the nominal genus for which the family was erected.[3][4] Both species were quite large animals, capable of reaching 1.5 meters as adults.

Former Members
  • Limnostygis (one species) was once considered to be a member of the Limnoscelidae by Robert L. Carroll,[2] but as of a recent study it is no longer considered to be a member based on a lack of data.[5] It is known from a single partial skeleton.[2] It was markedly smaller than Limnoscelis, about 40 cm in adult length.

References
  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.
  3. Williston, S.W. (1911). "A new family of reptiles from the Permian of New Mexico". The American Journal of Science. 4. 33: 378–398.
  4. Berman, D.S.; Sumida, S.S. (1990). "A new species of Limnoscelis (Amphibia, Diadectomorpha) from the Late Pennsylvanian Sangre de Cristo Formation of Central Colorado". Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 59 (4): 303–341.
  5. Wideman, N.K. (2002). "The postcranial anatomy of the late Paleozoic Family Limnoscelidae and its significance for diadectomorph taxonomy". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 22: 119A.
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