- Edaphosauridae
Taxobox
name = Edaphosauridae
fossil_range = LatestPennsylvanian - EarlyPermian
image_caption = "Edaphosaurus "
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Synapsid a
ordo =Pelycosaur ia
familia = Edaphosauridae
familia_authority = Cope,1882
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision =
* "Edaphosaurus "
* "Ianthasaurus "
* "Glaucosaurus "The Edaphosauridae are a family of mostly large (up to 3 meters or more) advanced,
Late Pennsylvanian to early Permian pelycosaurs.They were the earliest known herbivorous amniotes, and along with the
Diadectidae the earliest known herbivoroustetrapod s. The head is small in relation to the bulky body, and there is a tall sail along the back, which may have functioned as a thermoregulatory device. The advancedgenus "Edaphosaurus " was unique in that its "sail" possessed short bony cross bars.Edaphosaur fossils are so far known only from
North America andEurope .References
* Carroll, R. L. (1988), "Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution", WH Freeman & Co.
* Reisz, R. R., 1986, "Handbuch der Paläoherpetologie – Encyclopedia of Paleoherpetology, Part 17A Pelycosauria" Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, ISBN 3-89937-032-5External links
* [http://www.palaeos.com/Vertebrates/Units/Unit390/390.300.html#Edaphosauridae Edaphosauridae]
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