Reptiliomorpha

Archeria, a Reptiliomorphe from the Lower Permian of Texas

• Embolomeri
• Chroniosuchia
• Gephyrostegida
• Seymouriamorpha
• Diadectomorpha
• Amniotes

As a group of land vertebrates the Reptiliomorpha close the Amniota and their home group, the so-called reptiliomorphen amphibians, a. Reptiliomorphe amphibians are detected from Carboniferous to the Triassic.

After kladistischer definition Reptiliomorpha include all land vertebrate groups that are more closely related to mammals than with today's amphibians. Since analyzes of the phylogeny previously provide conflicting results terrestrial vertebrates, the Reptiliomorpha addition to Diadectomorpha, which are considered next of kin of the amniotes, different fossil groups are assigned. The Lepospondyli meet Ruta and others ( 2003), the above definition, but are sometimes not included in the Reptiliomorpha.

Reptiliomorphe amphibians reach only after little later occurrence of the first true reptiles their greatest diversity and survive with the group of Chroniosuchier to the middle Triassic. They include both aquatic species and terrestrial forms which are occupied particularly by numerous finds of fossil tracks of Seymouriamorpha and Diadectomorpha from the Permian. A fossil deposit of skeletons and footprints reptiliomorpher amphibians and primitive amniotes is the location Bromacker in the Thuringian Forest.

Features

Unlike Urlandwirbeltieren and the presumed fossil relatives of extant amphibians ( Batrachomorpha ) the vortex of Reptiliomorphen are characterized in that the Pleurocentrum is equal to or greater than the intercentrum. In derived Reptiliomorpha only the Pleurocentrum with the neural arch is in contact or fused with it. Benton ( 2005) mentions the following common features derived the Reptiliomorpha: premaxilla, taking less than half the width of the skull; tapered forward plow legs and Fußzehengliederformel 2/3/4/5/4-5.