Amphibian
Cochleosaurus florensis
Cochleosaurus florensisCochleosaurus florensis patrolled the stagnant waterways and lush coal swamps of Late Carboniferous Euramerica as a capable aquatic ambush predator. Its elongated, flattened skull possessed sensory lateral line grooves and sharp conical teeth, ideal for snatching early ray-finned fishes and small tetrapods from murky shallows. Distinctive among its kin for heavily ossified ear regions and reduced otic notches, this robust amphibian likely ventured between quiet lagoons and muddy shorelines.
FossilCarnivorous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPalaeoniscoid fish, Small amphibians, Freshwater sharks
Predators
- Larger temnospondyls
- Baphetids
- Rhizodont fishes
ThreatsExtinct; climatic aridification during the Carboniferous Rainforest Collapse
HabitatsCarboniferous coal swamps, lowland river deltas, and forest pools
Life spanUnknown; estimated 10–20 years
Classification
- FamilyCochleosauridae
- SpeciesCochleosaurus florensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct species known only from fossil deposits.
Responsible observation
- Museum Examination: Inspect fossil skull casts in paleontological exhibits to observe the pitted dermal bone patterns.
- Identification Context: Look for the characteristic absence of an otic notch behind the eyes to distinguish it from related temnospondyls.
Image unavailableContemporary Neighbor Related Clade 
Close Relative Tommy from Arad / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
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