Megalocephalus

Megalocephalus
Temporal range: Late Carboniferous
Skull of M. sp
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sarcopterygii
Clade: Tetrapodomorpha
Family: †Baphetidae
Subfamily: †Loxommatinae
Genus: †Megalocephalus
Barkas, 1873
Type species
†Megalocephalus pachycephalus
Barkas, 1873
Species
  • †Megalocephalus pachycephalus[1] Barkas, 1873
  • †Megalocephalus lineolatus[2] Cope, 1877
Synonyms
  • †Anisodexis Cope, 1882

Megalocephalus (meaning "big head") is an extinct genus of baphetid amphibian from the late Carboniferous of the British Isles.[3] It contains two species, M. pachycephalus and M. lineolatus.[2]

Description

Restoration

Megalocephalus was a small amphibian, measuring 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) from head to tail.[3]

Skull

It is only known from its skull, like most other baphetids. The skull of Megalocephalus was 30 centimetres (12 in) long. The teeth of Megalocephalus were long and pointed. Baphetids had a small elongation of their eye sockets, of which the current use for is not certain. It has been suggested that the elongation was housing for a salt gland to get rid of excess salt, or an extra region for jaw muscle attachments, to allow a harder bite force.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Megalocephalus Fossil from Maoming, Guangdong, China.". www.artsourceasia.com. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  2. 1 2 "Confirmation of Romer's Gap as a low oxygen interval constraining the timing of initial arthropod and vertebrate terrestrialization". Ward et al. National Academy of Sciences. 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  3. 1 2 3 Benson, R.; Anderson, J.; Brusatte, S.; Clack, J.; Dennis-Bryan, K.; Duffin, C.; Hone, D.; Naish, D.; Xu, X.; Prothero, D.; Parsons, K.; Milner, A.; Johanson, Z. (2012). Prehistoric Life. London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 165. ISBN 978-0-7566-9910-9.
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