Diplocaulus
Encyclopedia
Diplocaulus is an extinct genus of leponspondyl
amphibian
from the Permian
period of North America.
-like body, but was relatively large, reaching up to 1 metres (3.3 ft) in length. Its most distinctive features were the long protrusions on the sides of its skull
, giving the head a boomerang
shape. Judging from its weak limbs and relatively short tail, it is presumed to have swum with an up-and-down movement of its body, not unlike cetacea
ns today. The wide head could have acted like a hydrofoil
, helping the creature glide through the water. The University of Michigan's exhibit takes this concept on step further, adding a sheet of loose skin from the tips of the skull to the base of the tail which would have moved in an undulating wave for forward motion. Another possibility is that the shape was defensive, since even a large predator would have a hard time trying to swallow a creature with such a wide head.
A close cousin of Diplocaulus is Diploceraspis
.
Lepospondyli
Lepospondyli are a group of small but diverse Carboniferous to early Permian tetrapods. Six different groups are known, the Acherontiscidae, Adelospondyli, Aïstopoda, Lysorophia, Microsauria and Nectridea, and between them they include newt-like, eel- or snake-like, and lizard-like forms, along...
amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
from the Permian
Permian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
period of North America.
Description
Diplocaulus had a stocky, salamanderSalamander
Salamander is a common name of approximately 500 species of amphibians. They are typically characterized by a superficially lizard-like appearance, with their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails. All known fossils and extinct species fall under the order Caudata, while sometimes the extant...
-like body, but was relatively large, reaching up to 1 metres (3.3 ft) in length. Its most distinctive features were the long protrusions on the sides of its skull
Skull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
, giving the head a boomerang
Boomerang
A boomerang is a flying tool with a curved shape used as a weapon or for sport.-Description:A boomerang is usually thought of as a wooden device, although historically boomerang-like devices have also been made from bones. Modern boomerangs used for sport are often made from carbon fibre-reinforced...
shape. Judging from its weak limbs and relatively short tail, it is presumed to have swum with an up-and-down movement of its body, not unlike cetacea
Cetacea
The order Cetacea includes the marine mammals commonly known as whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Cetus is Latin and is used in biological names to mean "whale"; its original meaning, "large sea animal", was more general. It comes from Ancient Greek , meaning "whale" or "any huge fish or sea...
ns today. The wide head could have acted like a hydrofoil
Hydrofoil
A hydrofoil is a foil which operates in water. They are similar in appearance and purpose to airfoils.Hydrofoils can be artificial, such as the rudder or keel on a boat, the diving planes on a submarine, a surfboard fin, or occur naturally, as with fish fins, the flippers of aquatic mammals, the...
, helping the creature glide through the water. The University of Michigan's exhibit takes this concept on step further, adding a sheet of loose skin from the tips of the skull to the base of the tail which would have moved in an undulating wave for forward motion. Another possibility is that the shape was defensive, since even a large predator would have a hard time trying to swallow a creature with such a wide head.
A close cousin of Diplocaulus is Diploceraspis
Diploceraspis
Diploceraspis was a lepospondyl amphibian. It lived in Ohio during the Permian period. It closely resembles Diplocaulus, and is a relative. It generally sports the same features as Diplocaulus....
.
Diplocaulus on display
- The fossilized skeleton of a Diplocaulus is on display at the University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
Museum of Natural History in Ann Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. The display presents art of the Diplocaulus with the controversial skin extending from the tips of the head to the tail. - The fossilized skeleton of a Diplocaulus is on display at the Houston Museum of Natural ScienceHouston Museum of Natural ScienceThe Houston Museum of Natural Science is a science museum located on the northern border of Hermann Park in Houston, Texas, USA. The museum was established in 1909 by the Houston Museum and Scientific Society, an organization whose goals were to provide a free institution for the people of Houston...
in Houston, TexasHouston, TexasHouston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.