The skull of Cochleosaurus bohemicus Frič, a temnospondyl from the Czech Republic (Upper Carboniferous) and cochleosaurid interrelationships

Abstract

The cranial anatomy of the primitive Carboniferous temnospondyl Cochleosaurus bohemicus is described herein from several large, presumably adult, skulls. This new morphological data modifies earlier descriptions by Frič (=Fritsch in post-1876 publications), Romer and Steen, which were based almost entirely on small, subadult Cochleosaurus bohemicus specimens. Recognition of a new autapomorphy for Cochleosaurus bohemicus, (pitting on the ventral surface of the postorbitals) which is independent of ontogenetic change, has facilitated more accurate intra-specific comparisons between cochleosaurids. Cladistic analysis reveals a clear dichotomy separating the Edopoidea from the more derived clade of the remaining temnospondyls, which includes Balanerpeton and Dendrerpeton. The Edopoidea are only weakly supported as a superfamily in this analysis. The Cochleosauridae are a monophyletic family comprising the genera Procochleosaurus, Adamanterpeton, Cochleosaurus and Chenoprosopus.