Branchiosaurus fossil map
Where fossils of Branchiosaurus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 300 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 300 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early tetrapods & amphibians |
|---|---|
| Lived | 315.2–293.52 million years ago (Moscovian to Asselian) |
| Periods | Carboniferous, Permian |
| Family | Branchiosauridae |
| Named by | Fritsch 1876 |
| Fossil records | 8 occurrences at 7 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Czech Republic, France, United States |
| Rock formations | txn:37037, Kladno, Conemaugh, Vrchlabí, Vrchlabi |
About Branchiosaurus
Branchiosaurus (from Greek: βράγχιον bránkhion, 'gill' and Greek: σαῦρος saûros, 'lizard') is a genus of small, prehistoric amphibians. Fossils have been discovered in strata dating from the late Pennsylvanian Epoch to the Permian Period. The taxa may be invalid; the material referred to the genus may be juvenile specimens of larger amphibians.
This tiny amphibian was very similar to the Rachitomi, differing primarily in size. Other distinguishing characteristics include a cartilaginous, less ossified skeleton and a shorter skull. Clear traces of gills are present in many fossilized samples, hence the name.
Originally thought to have vertebrae distinct from rhachitomous vertebrae, it was placed in a separate order named Phyllospondyli ("leaf vertebrae"). Later analysis of growth stages showed increasing ossification in larger specimens, which showed that at least some of the species was the larval stage of much larger rachitomes like Eryops, while others represent paedomorphic species which retained the larval gills in adulthood.
Distribution is uncertain, though available fossils come from central Europe, most famous of which are the Permian Niederkirchen Beds around Pfalz, Germany.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Branchiosaurus (revision 1282655779), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q2331017.
