Gerrothorax

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Gerrothorax
Fossil range: Late Triassic
Gerrothorax pulcherrimus
Gerrothorax pulcherrimus
Conservation status
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Temnospondyli
Family: Plagiosauridae
Genus: Gerrothorax

Gerrothorax ("Wicker Chest") is an extinct genus of temnospondyl amphibian from the Triassic period. It was about 1 m (3 ft 4 in) long.

Gerrothorax was an extremely flattened creature that probably hid under sand or mud on river and lake bottoms, scanning for prey with its large, upward-facing eyes. Gerrothorax had an unusually shaped skull with angular protrusions on the sides. This looked vaguely similar to the skull of the earlier Diplocaulus, but less developed. Fossils have shown that Gerrothorax was pedomorphic, retaining its larva gills as an adult. This is also seen in some modern-day salamanders, such as the mudpuppy, the axolotl, and the olm. Gerrothorax had three pairs of external gills allowing it to breathe under water.