View source for Branchiosaurus

{{Short description|Extinct genus of amphibians}}
{{Distinguish|text=the dinosaur [[Brachiosaurus]]}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = Lower [[Permian]]
| image = Branchiosaurus salamandroides.JPG
| image_caption = Fossil of ''B. salamandroides'' in the [[Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia]]
| taxon = Branchiosaurus
| authority = [[Antonin Fritsch|Fritsch]], 1876
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
* ''B. salamandroides'' <small>Fritsch, 1875</small>
* ''B. umbrosus'' <small>Fritsch, 1879</small>
}}

'''''Branchiosaurus''''' (from {{langx|el|βράγχιον}} {{transliteration|el|bránkhion}}, 'gill' and {{langx|el|σαῦρος}} {{transliteration|el|saûros}}, 'lizard') is a [[genus]] of small, [[prehistoric amphibian]]s. [[Fossil]]s have been discovered in strata dating from the late [[Pennsylvanian (geology)|Pennsylvanian]] Epoch to the [[Permian]] Period. The taxa may be invalid; the material referred to the genus may be juvenile specimens of larger amphibians.<ref>Andrew R. Milner, "The Tetrapod Assemblage from Nýrany, Czechoslovakia", in Systematics Association Special Volume No.15, "The Terrestrial Environment and the Origin of Land Vertebrates", ed. by A. L. Panchen, 1980, pp.439-496, Academic Press, London and New York</ref>
[[File:Branchiosaurus BW.jpg|thumb|left|Restoration]]
[[Image:ExtdStegocephalianBranchiosaurusamblystomusPermianEuropeoe192120048-14.jpg|upright|thumb|left|Skeletal diagram]]
This tiny amphibian was very similar to the [[Rachitomi]], differing primarily in size.{{clarify|date=January 2014}} Other distinguishing characteristics include a cartilaginous, less [[bone|ossified skeleton]] and a shorter skull. Clear traces of [[gill]]s are present in many fossilized samples, hence the name.

Originally thought to have [[vertebrae]] distinct from rhachitomous vertebrae, it was placed in a separate [[Scientific classification|order]] named [[Phyllospondyli]] ("leaf vertebrae"). Later analysis of growth stages showed increasing ossification in larger specimens, which showed that at least some of the species was the [[larval stage]] of much larger rachitomes like ''[[Eryops]]'', while others represent [[paedomorphic]] species which retained the larval gills in adulthood.<ref>Boy, J.A. (1972): Die Branchiosaurier (Amphibia) des saarpfalzichen Rotliegenden (Perm, SW-Deutschland). ''Abhandlungen des Hessische Landesamt, Bodenforschung'' No 65, pp 1-137</ref>

Distribution is uncertain, though available fossils come from central Europe, most famous of which are the Permian [[Niederkirchen Beds]] around Pfalz, Germany.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Paleontology}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070226130523/http://www.toyen.uio.no/palmus/galleri/montre/english/159_159.htm Fossil picture.]
*[https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id285187/ ''Branchiosaurus at BioLib.cz'']

{{Temnospondyli|D.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2331017}}

[[Category:Branchiosaurids]]
[[Category:Permian temnospondyls of Europe]]
[[Category:Prehistoric amphibian genera]]
[[Category:Fossil taxa described in 1876]]

{{Temnospondyli-stub}}