Diplocaulus

Name: Diplocaulus‭ (‬Double stalk‭)‬.
Phonetic: Dip-low-cawl-us.
Named By: Cope‭ ‬-‭ ‬1882.
Classification: Chordata,‭ ‬Amphibia,‭ ‬Lepospondyli,‭ ‬Nectridea,‭ ‬Keraterpetontidae.
Species: D.‭ ‬salamandroides (type), D. brevirostris,‭ ‬D.‭ ‬magnicornis.
Type: Carnivore/piscivore.
Size: 1‭ ‬meter long.
Known locations: USA,‭ ‬Texas.
Time period: Permian.
Fossil representation: Several Specimens.

       The unusual boomerang shape of the head has been a source of interest ever since its discovery.‭ ‬The two main theories are that it either functioned as a hydrofoil allowing it to move in strong currents,‭ ‬or that it made it impossible for other predators to swallow. It may have course been a form of recognition between members of the same species.

Further reading
- The Structure and Relationships of Diplocaulus. - Contributions from Walker Museum. 2 (1): 1–42. - Herman Douthitt - 1917.
- Diplocaulus: A study in growth and variation. - Fieldiana: Geology. 11 (2): 59–149. - E. C. Olsen - 1951.
- Diplocaulus cranial material from the lower Abo Formation (Wolfcampian) of New Mexico and the stratigraphic distribution of the genus. - New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin. 30: 101–103. - Suan K. Harris, Spencer G. Lucas, David S Berman & Amy Henrici - 2005.

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