Nectridea.
In a world of
swampy-forests approximately 300 million years ago a vast array of life
was developing. Among them was an order of amphibians known as the
NECTRIDEA.
These small, outwardly newt like
amphibians, where primarily aquatic and lived from 320-260 million
years ago during the Carboniferous and Permian epochs. They typically
had a short barreled trunk and small, well developed limbs,
with long tails that account for nearly two-thirds of their total
length. One of the most notable features in some species is the
presence of long bony extensions to the skull, giving the head a
boomerang appearance!
The Nectrideans are one of the 5 major groups within the Lepospondyls
(Aistopoda, Adelogyrinids, Nectridea, Microsauria and Lysorophidae).
This group is important in the debate on the origin of modern
amphibians (frogs, salamanders an ceacilians).
Nectridean remains are found in North America, Europe and North Africa.
Click below to find out more.
Fossil Record - Origins, early forms and occurrences; where and when.
Modern Forms - Are there any modern forms of Nectrideans? Where did they go?
Author: Iain McIntyre
Last updated: 19/11/2006
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produced by students
on the MSc
Palaeobiology programme in the Department
of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol for academic
year 2006-7
