''Plagiobatrachus'' is an extinct
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
plagiosaurid
Plagiosauridae is a clade of temnospondyl amphibians of the Middle to Late Triassic. Deposits of the group are most commonly found in non-marine aquatic depositional environments from central Europe and Greenland, but other remains have been foun ...
temnospondyl
Temnospondyli (from Greek language, Greek τέμνειν, ''temnein'' 'to cut' and σπόνδυλος, ''spondylos'' 'vertebra') is a diverse order (biology), order of small to giant tetrapods—often considered Labyrinthodontia, primitive amphi ...
. It is known from the Rewan Formation, an
Early Triassic
The Early Triassic is the first of three epochs of the Triassic Period of the geologic timescale. It spans the time between Ma and Ma (million years ago). Rocks from this epoch are collectively known as the Lower Triassic Series, which is a un ...
formation in Australia.
History of study
''Plagiobatrachus'' was described for vertebrae and partial mandibular material with pustular ornamentation for the type species, ''P. australis'', by Anne Warren.
This remains the only plagiosaurid known from Australia and one of the few records from the present-day southern hemisphere. It is also one of the few Early Triassic records of plagiosaurids. The vertebrae of plagiosaurids are fairly distinctive in having a single massive central element and neural arches that sit between successive centra (intercentral), allowing for the identification of the vertebral material as that of a plagiosaurid.
However, the fragmentary nature of the material and the absence of any additional recovered material has limited the study of this taxon.
See also
*
Prehistoric amphibian
This list of prehistoric amphibians is an attempt to create a comprehensive listing of all Genus, genera from the fossil record that have ever been considered to be amphibians, excluding purely vernacular terms. The list includes all commonly accep ...
*
List of prehistoric amphibians
This list of prehistoric amphibians is an attempt to create a comprehensive listing of all genera from the fossil record that have ever been considered to be amphibians, excluding purely vernacular terms. The list includes all commonly accepted g ...
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q7200454
Plagiosauridae
Fossil taxa described in 1985
Triassic temnospondyls of Australia