Temnospondyli - Classification

Classification

Originally, temnospondyls were classified according to the structure of their vertebrae. Early forms, with complex vertebrae consisting of a number of separate elements, were placed in the suborder Rachitomi, and large Triassic aquatic forms with simpler vertebrae were placed in the suborder Stereospondyli. With the recent growth of phylogenetics, this classification is no longer viable. The basic rhachitomous condition is found in many primitive tetrapods, and is not unique to one group of temnospondyls. Moreover, the distinction between rhachitomous and stereospondylous vertebrae is not entirely clear. Some temnospondyls have rhachitomous, semirhachitomous, and sterospondylous vertebrae at different points in the same vertebral column. Other taxa have intermediate morphologies that do not fit into any category. Rachitomi is no longer recognized as a group, but Stereospondyli is still considered valid. Below is a simplified taxonomy of temnospondyls showing currently recognized groups:

Class Amphibia

• Order Temnospondyli
  • Superfamily Edopoidea
    • Family Cochleosauridae (Chenoprosopidae)
    • Family Edopidae
  • Family Dendrerpetontidae
  • Suborder Dvinosauria
  • Suborder Euskelia
    • Superfamily Dissorophoidea
      • Family Amphibamidae
      • Family Branchiosauridae
      • Family Dissorophidae
      • Family Micromelerpetontidae
    • Superfamily Eryopoidea
      • Family Eryopidae
      • Family Parioxyidae
      • Family Zatrachydidae
  • Clade Limnarchia
    • Clade Stereospondylomorpha
      • Superfamily Archegosauroidea
        • Family Actinodontidae
        • Family Archegosauridae
        • Family Intasuchidae (placement is uncertain)
      • Suborder Stereospondyli
        • Family Peltobatrachidae
        • Family Lapillopsidae
        • Family Rhinesuchidae
        • Family Lydekkerinidae
        • Clade Capitosauria
          • Superfamily Mastodonsauroidea (Capitosauroidea)
            • Family Heylerosauridae
            • Family Mastodonsauridae
            • Family Sclerothoracidae
        • Infraorder Trematosauria
          • Superfamily Trematosauroidea
          • Superfamily Metoposauroidea
          • Superfamily Plagiosauroidea
          • Superfamily Brachyopoidea
          • Superfamily Rhytidosteoidea