Gerrothorax

Taxobox
name = "Gerrothorax"
status = fossil
fossil_range = Late Triassic

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image_caption = "Gerrothorax pulcherrimus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Amphibia
ordo = Temnospondyli
familia = Plagiosauridae
genus = "Gerrothorax"

"Gerrothorax" ("Wicker Chest") is an extinct genus of temnospondyl amphibian from the Triassic period. It was about 1 m (3 ft 4 in) long.

"Gerrothorax" was an extremely flattened creature that probably hid under sand or mud on river and lake bottoms, scanning for prey with its large, upward-facing eyes. "Gerrothorax" had an unusually shaped skull with angular protrusions on the sides. This looked vaguely similar to the skull of the earlier "Diplocaulus", but less developed. Fossils have shown that "Gerrothorax" was pedomorphic, retaining its larva gills as an adult. This is also seen in some modern-day salamanders, such as the mudpuppy, the axolotl, and the olm. "Gerrothorax" had three pairs of external gills allowing it to breathe under water.