Labyrinthodonta

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Labyrinthodonta \Lab`y*rin`tho*don"ta\, prop. n. pl. [NL. See
     {Labyrinthodon}.] (Paleon.)
     An extinct order of Amphibia, including the typical genus
     {Labyrinthodon}, and many other allied forms, from the
     Carboniferous, Permian, and Triassic formations. By recent
     writers they are divided into two or more orders. See


     {Stegocephala}.
     [1913 Webster] Lac

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Stegocephala \Steg`o*ceph"a*la\
     (st[e^]g`[-o]*s[e^]f"[.a]*l[.a]), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ste`gh
     roof + kefalh` head.] (Paleon.)
     An extinct order of amphibians found fossil in the Mesozoic
     rocks; called also {Stegocephali}, and {Labyrinthodonta}.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Their teeth, in transverse sections, usually show a
           labyrinthiform arrangement of the cement and dentine.
           The under side of the body was covered with bony
           plates. Some of the Stegocephala were of very large
           size, and the form of the body varied from short, stout
           forms to others that were as slender as serpents.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  Labyrinthodonta
       n : extinct amphibians typically resembling heavy-bodied
           salamanders or crocodiles and having a solid flattened
           skull and conical teeth; Devonian through Triassic [syn:
           {Labyrinthodontia}, {superorder Labyrinthodontia}, {superorder
           Labyrinthodonta}]