Gerrothorax
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Gerrothorax Fossil range: Late Triassic |
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Gerrothorax pulcherrimus
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Fossil
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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.