Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Limnoscelidae

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Phylum
  
Chordata

Rank
  
Family

Scientific name
  
Limnoscelidae

Higher classification
  
Diadectomorpha

Order
  
Diadectomorpha

Limnoscelidae

Similar
  
Diadectomorpha, Tseajaia, Diasparactus, Limnoscelis, Chroniosuchidae

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 tadpole stage. Contrary to the more advanced herbivorous Diadectidae, the teeth retained labyrinthodont infolding of the enamel, and were pointed and slightly recurved at the tip.

Taxonomy

Three species assigned to two genera make up the known members of the family.

  • Limnoscelis (two species) is the nominal genus for which the family was erected. Both species were quite large animals, capable of reaching 1.5 meters as adults.
  • Limnostygis (one species) is known from a single partial skeleton was assigned to the family by Robert L. Carroll It was markedly smaller than its cousins, about 40 cm in adult length.
  • References

    Limnoscelidae Wikipedia