Platyhystrix is a dissorophid temnospondyl amphibian from the Pennsylvanian-Cisuralian of the United States of America. It was named in 1910 by Ermine Cowles Case. It was a strange and unique amphibian, having characteristics of amphibians, reptiles, and early synapsids.
Physiology[]
Platyhystrix had a regular temnospondyl build, with 4 legs, a moderately-sized tail, a bulky body, and a big head with big jaws. However, like most pelycosaur synapsids, and unlike most other temnospondyl amphibians, it had a large sail on its back. Its body would have been covered in scaly skin, with a few scutes on its back.
Diet[]
Platyhystrix was a predator, preying on insects, small fish, and smaller amphibians. Its teeth were small yet sharp, and were used to get a hold of struggling prey as the amphibian swallowed them whole.
Ecology[]
So far, all we know about Platyhystrix is that it had a large sail used for thermoregulation, it lived on land, and the scutes on its back were used for stopping predators such as Eryops from effortlessly biting into it.