Branchiosaurus

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For the sauropod dinosaur, see Brachiosaurus.

Branchiosaurus (Greek for "gill lizard") is a genus of small, lightly-built early prehistoric amphibians. Fossils have been discovered in strata dating from the late Pennsylvanian Epoch to the Permian Period. The taxa may be invalid; the material referred to the genus may be juvenile specimens of larger amphibians.

This tiny amphibian was very similar to the Rachitomi, differing primarily in size. Other distinguishing characteristics include a less ossified skeleton and a shorter skull. Clear traces of gills are present in many fossilized samples, hence the name.

Originally thought to have vertebrae distinct from rachitomous vertebrae, it was placed in a separate order named Phyllospondyli ("leaf vertebrae"). Later analysis of growth stages showed increasing ossification in larger specimens, which indicated it was the larval stage of a much larger rachitome like Eryops.