DIPLOCAULUS
An interesting amphibian, several different species of Diplocaulus (dip-low-call-us) are known. Diplocaulus lived from the late Carboniferous Period, 323 mya, till the late Permian Period, 252 mya. While relatively large compared to the majority of modern day amphibians, Diplocaulus's 3 foot length makes it a small fry in comparison to other prehistoric amphibians.
Diplocaulus was first discovered in 1877 by famous paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope. Cope is best known for his involvement in the "Bone Wars", a feud between Cope and his adversary, Othniel Charles Marsh. Between 1858 and 1897, the two paleontologists would discover over 130 new species of extinct animals. Diplocaulus was one of 56 that Cope discovered.
The physical appearance of Diplocaulus is very hard to discern, as many modern amphibians exhibit soft structures that would not be identifiable in fossils bones. However, it is widely accepted that from the head back, Diplocaulus would have resembled a large salamander. The appearance of the head is much debated. Some reconstructions show the head only barely covered with skin, giving the head the appearance of skull that can be seen under Original Discovery. However, in the world of hydrodynamics, it would make more sense for there to be a fin attaching to the sides of the skull. This fin would continue down the sides of the body, giving the living animal an appearance like the one seen above.
Diplocaulus lived in the swamps that were abundant in Texas and Oklahoma during the Carboniferous and early Permian periods. Despite being an amphibian, it would have spent the majority of its life in the water and was very cumbersome on land. Diplocaulus would have been in the middle of the food chain, preying upon the small fish and giant insects of the area. It also would have been prey for other large fish and possibly other large amphibians that lived at the time. Synapsid reptiles (our ancestors!), like Dimetrodon would not have turned up their nose at the tasty meal Diplocaulus presented.
Extinction
Towards the end of the Permian Period, the Earth's climate was rapidly changing, with many volcanoes becoming highly active. This caused many of the Earth's environments to become dry and desert-like. With its swampy home gone, Diplocaulus and most of the other giant amphibians eventually died out, unable to cope with the change in climate. Many of the giant amphibians would have died in dried up river beds, possibly still encased in lungfish-like cocoons.
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Image Credits
All images have been cropped to fit the space required
All images are used under Fair Use laws
Image credits are listed from top to bottom and from left to right
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Diplocaulus
Original screenshot by: Liekeze
Taken in game: ARK: Survival Evolved
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Diplocaulus fossil
Original picture by: Daderot
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Diplocaulus with dorsal skin
Original drawing by: Nihil scimus
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Diplocaulus hunting
Original screenshot by: Liekeze
Taken in game: ARK: Survival Evolved
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Dead Diplocaulus
Original screenshot by: Liekeze
Taken in game: ARK: Survival Evolved
Original Discovery
Physical Appearance
Ecology
