Brachystelechidae
Encyclopedia
Brachystelechidae is an extinct family
of Early Permian microsaurs. The family was first named by Robert L. Carroll
and Pamela Gaskill in 1978, with the only member being Brachystelechus fritschi. Brachystelechus fritschi has since been reassigned to the genus Batropetes
. Three genera are currently assigned to the family: Batropetes, from Germany
; Carrolla
, from Texas
; and Quasicaecilia, also from Texas.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of Early Permian microsaurs. The family was first named by Robert L. Carroll
Robert L. Carroll
Robert Lynn Carroll is a vertebrate paleontologist who specialises in Paleozoic and Mesozoic amphibians and reptiles.Carroll was an only child and grew up on a farm near Lansing, Michigan...
and Pamela Gaskill in 1978, with the only member being Brachystelechus fritschi. Brachystelechus fritschi has since been reassigned to the genus Batropetes
Batropetes
Batropetes is an extinct genus of brachystelechid microbrachomorph. Although it was first classified as a reptile, Batropetes is now known to be a microsaur amphibian. Fossils have been collected from the town of Freital in Saxony, Germany, near the city of Dresden. Additional material has been...
. Three genera are currently assigned to the family: Batropetes, from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
; Carrolla
Carrolla
Carrolla is an extinct genus of prehistoric amphibian.-See also:* Prehistoric amphibian* List of prehistoric amphibians...
, from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
; and Quasicaecilia, also from Texas.
External links
- Brachystelechidae in the Paleobiology DatabasePaleobiology Database' is an online resource for information on the distribution and classification of fossil animals, plants, and microorganisms.-History:The Paleobiology Database was founded in 2000. It has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the Australian Research Council...