Nectridea
| Nectrideans Temporal range: Late Carboniferous–Ufimian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Life restoration of Diplocaulus. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | "Amphibia" (wide sense) |
| Subclass: | †Lepospondyli |
| Node: | †Holospondyli |
| Order: | †Nectridea Miall, 1875 |
Nectridea is an extinct order of lepospondyl amphibians from the Carboniferous and Permian periods, including animals such as Diplocaulus. In appearance, they would have resembled modern newts or aquatic salamanders. They had long flattened tails to aid in swimming, and well-developed hind limbs, with a full set of five toes each. The forelimbs were somewhat reduced however, and like modern amphibians typically had only four toes each.[1]
Taxonomy
Nectridean skull
- Order Nectridea
References
- Ahlberg, P. E. & Milner, A. R. 1994: The origin and early diversification of tetrapods. Nature: vol. 368, 7 April, pp. 507-514
- Anderson, J. S. 1998: Phylogenetic analysis of the Lepospondyli (Tetrapoda). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Vol. 18, #3, Suppl. to #3, pp. 24A
- Carroll, R. L., 1988: Vertebrate paleontology and evolution. W. H. Freeman and company, New York, 1988, 698.
- Carroll, R. L., 1988: Appendix. 594-648. in Carroll, R. L., 1988: Vertebrate paleontology and evolution. W. H. Freeman and company, New York, 1988, 698.
- Carroll, R. L. 1996: Revealing the patterns of macroevolution. Nature: vol. 381, 2 May, pp. 19-20
- Clack, J. A., 1998: A new Early Carboniferous tetrapod with a mélange of crown-group characters. Nature: vol. 394, 2 July, pp. 66-69
- Shubin, N., 1998 [preview]: Evolutionary cut and paste. Nature: vol. 394, 2 July, pp. 12-13
- Vallin, G. & Laurin, M., 2004: Cranial morphology and affinities of Microbrachis, and a reappraisal of the phylogeny and lifestyle of the first amphibians. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: Vol. 24, #1, pp. 56-72
External links
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