Batrachosauroides

Batrachosauroides is a genus of extinct amphibians that lived during the Carboniferous period. The genus was first described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1875. The name Batrachosauroides is derived from the Greek words batrachos (frog) and sauroides (lizard-like), reflecting the amphibian's perceived intermediate status between frogs and lizards.

Description

Batrachosauroides was a medium-sized amphibian, with a length of approximately 1 meter. It had a long, slender body, a small head, and short limbs. The tail was long and laterally compressed, suggesting that Batrachosauroides was a good swimmer. The teeth were small and sharp, indicating a diet of small prey, possibly including insects and small fish.

Discovery and classification

The first fossils of Batrachosauroides were discovered in the Mazon Creek fossil beds in Illinois, USA. The genus is currently represented by a single species, Batrachosauroides dissimulans. The species name dissimulans means "disguising" in Latin, referring to the difficulty in distinguishing this species from other similar amphibians of the Carboniferous period.

Paleobiology

The habitat of Batrachosauroides was likely freshwater environments, such as rivers and lakes. The long, slender body and laterally compressed tail suggest that it was an adept swimmer. The small, sharp teeth indicate that it was a predator of small animals.

See also

• List of prehistoric amphibians
• Carboniferous amphibians