Karaurus
sharovi -Ivachnenko, 1978- skeleton
Lepospondyli: Urodela:
Karauridae
Locality: Karatau Ridge, Chimkent Region, southern Kazakhstan
Age:
Late Jurassic, 150 million years ago
A
small and insufficiently known group of the lepospondyl labyrinthodonts appears as
early as in the Carboniferous Period. They became most diversified in the Early Permian
of North America. This group most probably gave rise to the Urodela, which includes,
in particular, modern salamanders. The Late Jurassic Karaurus, known by this complete
and wonderfully preserved specimen from the southern Kazakhstan, is the earliest
known representantive of the Urodela.
