Limnoscelis

Limnoscelis Temporal range: Early Permian
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Limnoscelis paludis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Superclass:	Tetrapoda
Class:	Amphibia sensu lato
Order:	Reptiliomorpha
Suborder:	Diadectomorpha
Family:	Limnoscelidae
Genus:	Limnoscelis Williston, 1911
Species
L. paludis Williston, 1911 (type) L. dynatis Berman and Sumida, 1990

Limnoscelis is a genus of large (1.5 m in total length), very reptile-like diadectomorph (a type of reptile-like amphibian) from the Early Permian of North America. Contrary to other diadectomorphans, Limnoscelis appear to have been a carnivore. Though the post cranial skeleton is very similar to the early large bodied reptiles like pelycosaurs and pareiasaurs, the digits lacked claws, and the bones of the ankle bones were fused like in other reptile-like amphibians. This would not allow them to use their feet actively in traction, but rather as holdfasts, indicating Limnoscelis primarily hunted slow moving prey.

Gallery

• Limnoscelis21DB.jpg

  Limnoscelis

• Limnoscelis(Cast)-RedpathMuseumMontreal-June6-08.png

  A cast example of Limnoscelis, on display at the Redpath Museum, Montreal.

• Limnoscelis.jpg

  Limnoscelis skeleton.

• Limnoscelis paludis.JPG

  Limnoscelis skeleton in the Milan Natural History Museum.

Sources

• Bringing Fossils To Life: An Introduction To Paleobiology by Donald R. Prothero