Discosauriscus
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Discosauriscus Temporal range: Early Permian |
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| Discosauriscus austriacus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia sensu lato |
| Order: | Seymouriamorpha |
| Family: | Discosauriscidae |
| Genus: |
Discosauriscus Kuhn, 1933 |
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Discosauriscus was a small stegocephalian that has long been considered a reptiliomorph, but that some recent analyses place among stem-tetrapods. It lived in what is now Central and Western Europe in the Early Permian Period. Its best fossils have been found in Boskovice Furrow, in the Czech Republic.
Discosauriscus belongs in alternative classifications to the order Anthracosauria or Seymouriamorpha, and is the type genus of the family Discosauriscidae. Currently recognised are two valid species - Discosauriscus austriacus and Discosauriscus pulcherrimus. Letoverpeton is a junior synonym of Discosauriscus.
Discosauriscids were long thought to be known from larval or neotenic forms, and three ontogenetic stages had been distinguished. However, more recent studies concluded that some subadult, probably terrestrial specimens were known, so the case for neoteny in this taxon is not as well-supported as once thought. Discosauriscus had wide jaws with sharp teeth, short limbs and relatively long tail. The phalangeal formula was 2-3-4-5-3 for both hind- and forelimbs. The body was covered with rounded scales with concentric rings, and a well-preserved lateral-line system has been described.
Discosauriscus may have had electroreceptive organs.
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