Oldest known stereospondylous amphibian from the Early Permian of Namibia

Abstract

ABSTRACT New temnospondyl material is described on the basis of cranial and postcranial remains from the Gai-As Formation of the Huab Basin, Namibia. An Early Permian age is indicated by U/Pb SHRIMP dating of zircons from fallout tuff beds occurring immediately above the temnospondy1 remains. This material represents the oldest known amphibian with stereospondylous vertebrae and has implications for temnospondy1 evolution, biogeography and Permo-Triassic Gondwanan basin development models.