Sclerocephalus fossil map
Where fossils of Sclerocephalus 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 | 303.7–283.3 million years ago (Gzhelian to Artinskian) |
| Periods | Carboniferous, Permian |
| Named by | Goldfuss 1847 |
| Fossil records | 30 occurrences at 24 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Germany, Czech Republic |
| Rock formations | Meisenheim, Oberhof, Broumov, Altenglan, txn:NF, Quirnbach |
About Sclerocephalus
Sclerocephalus is an extinct genus of temnospondyl amphibian from the lowermost Permian of Germany and Czech Republic with nine valid species, including the type species S. haeuseri. It is one of the most completely preserved and most abundant Palaeozoic tetrapods. Sclerocephalus was once thought to be closely related to eryopoid temnospondyls, but it is now thought to be more closely related to archegosauroids. It is the only genus in the family Sclerocephalidae.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Sclerocephalus (revision 1365095382), 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: Q2290216.
