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Diplocaulus
''Diplocaulus'' (meaning "double caul") is an extinct genus of lepospondyl amphibians from the Permian period of North America. It is one of the largest lepospondyls, with a distinctive boomerang-shaped skull. Remains attributed to ''Diplocaulus'' have been found from the Late Permian of Morocco and represent the youngest known occurrence of a lepospondyl.
== Description ==
''Diplocaulus'' had a stocky, salamander-like body, but was relatively large, reaching up to 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, similar to modern whales and dolphins. The wide head could have acted like a hydrofoil, helping the creature glide through the water. 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. Rare trace fossils of ''Diplocaulus''-like amphibians show that the tips of the boomerang-shaped head were connected to the body by flaps of skin.
A close relative of ''Diplocaulus'' is ''Diploceraspis''.
抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』
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