| Karaurus Temporal range: Late Jurassic Oxfordian–Kimmeridgian |
|
|---|---|
| Karaurus sharovi | |
| Conservation status | |
|
Fossil
|
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Caudata |
| Family: | Karauridae |
| Genus: | Karaurus |
| Species: | K. sharovi |
| Binomial name | |
| Karaurus sharovi |
|
Karaurus (meaning head-tail) is an extinct genus of salamander from the Late Jurassic (Oxfordian - Kimmeridgian) Karabastau Svita of Kazakhstan. It is one of the oldest salamanders known.
Karaurus was about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) long, and very similar anatomically to modern salamanders. It probably swam through fresh water feeding on aquatic snails, worms, crustaceans and insects.[1]