Ostodolepidae
| Ostodolepidae Temporal range: Early Permian |
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| Life restoration of Pelodosotis elongatum | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subclass: | †Lepospondyli |
| Order: | †"Microsauria" |
| Clade: | †Recumbirostra |
| Family: |
†Ostodolepidae Romer, 1945 |
Ostodolepidae is an extinct family of tuditanomorph microsaurs. They are unique among microsaurs in that they were large, reaching lengths of up to 2 feet (61 cm), terrestrial, and presumably fossorial. Ostodolepid remains have been found from Early Permian beds in Texas and Oklahoma.
Ostodolepids have elongated trunks, with small, robust limbs and shortened tails. The occiput is high, but the skull narrows toward the snout. The snout is pointed and projects past the jaw. In dorsal view, the skull is roughly triangular. The ventral temporal margin is emarginated. At the back of the skull, there is a large cavity between the supraoccipital and the skull roof. The skull is well ossified, with tight sutures between bones. The skull roof is relatively smooth, although scattered pits and grooves are usually present. There are 32 to 45 presacral vertebrae, and three sacral vertebrae.
There are five genera in this family:
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