Nectridea

Nectrideans Temporal range: Late Carboniferous–Ufimian PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Life restoration of Diplocaulus.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subclass:	†Lepospondyli
Node:	†Holospondyli
Order:	†Nectridea Miall, 1875
Subgroups
See text.

Nectridea is the name of 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 fore limbs were somewhat reduced, however, and like modern amphibians, typically had only four toes each.^[1]

Taxonomy

Nectridean skull

• Order Nectridea
  • Arizonerpeton
  • Family Scincosauridae
    • Sauravus
    • Scincosaurus
  • Family Diplocaulidae
    • Batrachiderpeton
    • Keraterpeton
    • Diceratosaurus
    • Diploceraspis
    • Diplocaulus
  • Family Urocordylidae
    • Urocordylus
    • Ctenerpeton
    • Ptyonius
    • Sauropleura
    • Lepterpeton
    • Montcellia
    • Crossotelos'

References

1. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 54. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.

• 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

• Nectridae Phylogeny.