Nagini, Lysorophus and Brachydectes

Nagini mazonense (Mann, Pardo and Maddin 2022, 4.8cm) was originally considered a basal amniote. Taxon exclusion was the problem. Here Nagini nests with Lysorophus and Brachydectes, close to caecilians within the Microsauria. It was also an elongate lepospondyl with vestigial pelvic limbs, no pectoral limbs and a short tail.

Mann A, Pardo JD and Maddin HC 2022. Snake-like limb loss in a Carboniferous amniote. Nature Ecology and Evolution https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-022-01698-y

Brachydectes elongatus (formerly Lysorophus tricarinatus; Cope 1877, Wellstead 1991; Permian, 250 mya;AMNH 6172 ) was originally considered a salamander (urodele).

An elongate lepospondyl with vestigial limbs and a short tail.

Brachydectes newberryi (Wellstead 1991 Pardo and Anderson 2016; Latest Carboniferous; KUVP 49541) Similar in body length to Eocaecelia, Brachydectes (Carboniferous, 43 cm long) was a lysorophian amphibian with a very small skull and vestigial limbs. The skull has an orbit confluent with a lateral temporal fenestra. The mandible is shorter than the skull. Brachydectes has up to 99 presacral vertebrae.

Cope ED 1877. Description of extinct Vertebrata from the Permian and Triassic formations of the United States. Proc. Am. Philos. Soc. 17: 182-193.

Pardo J and Anderson J 2016. Cranial Morphology of the Carboniferous- Permian Tetrapod Brachydectes newberryi (Lepospondyli, Lysorophia): New Data from μCT. PLoS ONE 11(8): e0161823. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0161823

Wellstead C F 1991. Taxonomic revision of the Lysorophia, Permo-Carboniferous lepospondyl amphibians. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 209: 1–90.

wiki/Lysorophus
wiki/Brachydectes

Microsauria

Micraroter - Euryodus