Cochleosaurus is a name of a tetrapod belonging to Temnospondyli

Temnospondyli

Temnospondyli is a diverse order of small to giant tetrapods—often considered primitive amphibians—that flourished worldwide during the Carboniferous, Permian, and Triassic periods. A few species continued into the Cretaceous. Fossils have been found on every continent...

, which lived during the late Carboniferous

Carboniferous

The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Permian Period, about 299.0 ± 0.8 Mya . The name is derived from the Latin word for coal, carbo. Carboniferous means "coal-bearing"...

 period (Moscovian

Moscovian (Carboniferous)

The Moscovian is in the ICS geologic timescale a stage or age in the Pennsylvanian, the youngest subsystem of the Carboniferous. The Moscovian age lasted from 311.7 ± 1.1 to 306.5 ± 1.0 Ma, is preceded by the Bashkirian and is followed by the Kasimovian...

, about 310 millions years ago). The great abundance of its remains (about 50 specimen) was found in Czech Republic

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....

, near Nýřany

Nýrany

Nýřany is a town in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It lies to the West from the region capital of Plzeň.Nýřany is also the seat of the Municipality with Extended Competence....

. It was a creature of medium size, measuring 120-160 centimeters. It is believed that Cochleosaurus was a semi-aquatic ambush predator, hunting like modern crocodiles.