Diplocaulus magnicornis Cope
Early Permian
Arroyo Formation
Haskell county, TX, USA

Nicely ornamented skull fragment. Avg. 0.6 inch. Our pick. Photo is example only – too many to photograph and list separately.

Diplocaulus is a genus of fully-aquatic amphibians (Order Nectridea) that appeared during the Late Pennsylvanian and lived across the Permian.  It’s known primarily from sites in the western U.S. (Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico).  Other related genera are known from Europe and North Africa.

If you’re a kid from the 70’s, you’ll remember Diplocaulus even if you forgot the name.  It’s that boomerang-head amphibian from your dinosaur books.  This is a good affordable companion specimen if you already have a jaw section and couple of bones from this animal.