The Coal Measures Amphibia of North America

by Roy Lee Moodie

Labyrinthodontia.
A. Archegosauria. Archegosaurus, Pholidogaster.
B. Mastodonsauria. Mastodonsaurus, Labyrinthodon, Capitosaurus, Trematosaurus.

In the same year Dawson proposed ([208]) the term Microsauria to include the genera Hylonomus, Dendrerpeton, and Hylerpeton, all known from the Carboniferous rocks of Nova Scotia. Two years later Cope proposed the new order Xenorhachia ([105]) for the reception of the form Amphibamus grandiceps from the Coal Measures of Illinois. He gave as the characters of this order cartilaginous vertebræ and the absence of ribs.

In 1866 Owen proposed ([516]) the most elaborate and comprehensive scheme of classification which had thus far been offered. His classification is as follows:

Subclass Dipnoa.
Order Ganocephala (extinct). Genera: Archegosaurus, Dendrerpeton, etc.
Order Labyrinthodontia. Genera: Labyrinthodon, Rhombopholis , etc.
Order Batrachia.
Suborder Ophiomorpha. Family: Cœcilidæ.
Suborder Ichthyomorpha. Family: Proteidæ, Salamandridæ.
Suborder Theriomorpha (Anura).
Family 1. Aglossa.
Family 2. Ranidæ.
Family 3. Hylidæ.
Family 4. Bufonidæ.

Haeckel the same year proposed ([312]) an entirely different scheme of classification nd in some respects more acceptable than Owen's. Haeckel's classification is as follows:

Class—Amphibia.
Subclass I. Phractamphibia.
Ordnung i. Ganocephala.
Genera: Archegosaurus, Dendrerpeton, Raniceps.
Ordnung 2. Labyrinthodonta.
Genera: Baphetes, Zygosaurus, Mastodonsaurus, Trematosaurus, Capitosaurus.
Ordnung 3. Peromela.
Subclass II. Lissamphibia.
Ordnung i. Socobranchia.
Genera: Siren, Proteus, Menobranchus, etc.
Ordnung 2. Sozura (Caudata).
Genera: Cryptobranchus, Triton, Salamandra.
Ordnung 3. Anura (Ecaudata).
Families: Aglossa, Bufonidæ, Ranidæ.

This classification is further elaborated in the edition of 1895.

Cope in 1868 proposed ([110]) the scheme of classification which was in use for some time, although it has since suffered some change. His classification follows:

Batrachia.
Order 1. Trachystoma.
Order 2. Proteida.
Order 3. Urodela.
Order 4. Gymnophiona.
Order 5. Stegocephali.
Suborder Xenorhachia.
Amphibamus grandiceps Cope.
Suborder Microsauria.
Genera: Pelion Wyman, Hylonomus Dawson, Pariostegus Cope, Dendrerpeton
Owen, Hylerpeton Owen, Brachydectes Cope, Sauropleura Cope,
Œstocephalus Cope, Molgophis Cope.
Suborder Labyrinthodontia.
Genera: Dictyocephalus Leidy, Centemodon Lea, Baphetes Owen, Eupelor Cope.