. The coal measures Amphibia of North America. Amphibians, Fossil; Paleontology; Paleontology. 68 THE COAL MEASURES AMPHIBIA OF NORTH AMERICA. The reference by Cope of this genus to the Caudata is one of the most interesting facts connected with the Paleozoic Amphibia. He says: "The present genus is, then, to be referred to the neighborhood of Amphiuma and Protonopsis, but forming the type of another family" (123). He regards the branchial apparatus as being more fish-like than that of any of the modern genera. It is possible that Cocytinns gyrinoides was a larval branchiate and cons
. The coal measures Amphibia of North America. Amphibians, Fossil; Paleontology; Paleontology. 68 THE COAL MEASURES AMPHIBIA OF NORTH AMERICA. The reference by Cope of this genus to the Caudata is one of the most interesting facts connected with the Paleozoic Amphibia. He says: "The present genus is, then, to be referred to the neighborhood of Amphiuma and Protonopsis, but forming the type of another family" (123). He regards the branchial apparatus as being more fish-like than that of any of the modern genera. It is possible that Cocytinns gyrinoides was a larval branchiate and consequently aquatic form. It should be more fully compared with Erierpeton branchialis from the Mazon Creek shales when better known, as well as with Ilyphasma Icevis from the Linton locality. All three of these forms are included, provisionally, under the Cocytinidae. Cocytinus gyrinoides Cope. Cope, Proc. Am. Phil. Soc, xii, p. 177, 1871. Cope, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc, p. 278, 1874. Cope, Geol. Surv. Ohio, 11, pt. 11, pp. 364-365, pi. xxxix, fig. 4, 1875. Type: Specimen No. 8613 G, American Museum of Natural History. Horizon and locality: Linton, Ohio, Coal Measures. Two specimens of this interesting amphibian are known, one of them fairly com- plete (No. 2564, Am. Mus. Nat. Hist.). The type specimen consists of the inferior bones of the cranium in a fairly complete state of preservation, with the muzzle and its teeth; also 8 anterior vertebras, with their short recurved ribs. The condition of the hyal elements in the type specimen is as follows: the haemal elements of the first branchial arch are partially concealed on both sides of the ceratohyal. An expanded truncate face for attachment to the axial element is visible on both sides, but the body of the bone is flat and presents the edge of the specimen. The first pleural element proceeds from just behind the axial- hyal; it is longer than the other pleural elements. A slender bone is visible extending from the space between the
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