Limnoscelidae Temporal range: Late Carboniferous–Early Permian |
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Limnoscelis, the nominal genus | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Subclass: | "Labyrinthodontia" |
(unranked): | Reptiliomorpha |
Suborder: | †Diadectomorpha |
Family: | †Limnoscelidae Williston, 1911 |
Limnoscelidae is a family of carnivorous Diadectomorphans. They would have been the largest terrestrial carnivores of their day, the other large carnivores being aquatic or semi aquatic labyrinthodont amphibians. The Limnoscelidae themselves, being close to the ancestry of amniotes, would have been well adapted land animals, but still dependent on anamniote eggs, and possibly having a tadople stage.[1] Contrary to the more advanced herbivorious Diadectidae, the teeth retained labyrinthodont infolding of the enamel, and were pointed and slightly recurved at the tip.[2]
Three species assigned to two genera make up the known members of the family.