The Diplocaulidae ("double cauls") is an extinct family of "nectridean" tetrapodomorphs that arose during the Late Carboniferous and died out in the Late Permian. [1] They are distinguished by the presence of strange, horn-like protrusions jutting out from the rear of their skulls; in some genera said protrusions gave their heads an almost boomerang-like outline.

Diplocaulidae
A skeletal diagram of Diplocaulus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Sarcopterygii
Clade: Tetrapodomorpha
Order: Nectridea
Family: Diplocaulidae
Cope, 1881
Subgroups

See text.

Synonyms
Diploceraspis burkei

Phylogeny

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Below is a cladogram modified from Germain (2010):[1]

Nectridea 

References

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  1. ^ a b Germain, D. (2010). "The Moroccan diplocaulid: the last lepospondyl, the single one on Gondwana". Historical Biology. 22 (1–3): 4–39. doi:10.1080/08912961003779678.