Brachycormus

Brachycormus is an extinct genus[1] of salamandrid amphibian from the Oligocene–Miocene of Europe.[2]

Brachycormus Temporal range: Upper Oligocene–Middle Miocene, 29.30–15 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Urodela
Family:	Salamandridae
Genus:	†Brachycormus Meyer, 1860
Type species
† Triton noachicus Goldfuss, 1831

Neoteny is evident in some larval specimens by the retention of branchial arches and a high degree of ossification in the hyobranchial skeleton. The reason for this neoteny may be explained by a drop in global temperature during the Oligocene cooling event, which may have induced a delay in somatic development in relation to the gonadal development of these animals, thus allowing them to breed at the larval stage and shift the timing of their developmental change to cope with the changes in climate.[3][4]

References

1. "†Brachycormus von Meyer 1860". Paleobiology Database. Fossilworks. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
2. Martín, C. & Sanchiz, B. (2014). "Brachycormus Meyer, 1860c". Lisanfos KMS. Version 1.2. Online reference accessible at www.lisanfos.mncn.csic.es. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, MNCN-CSIC, Madrid (Spain). Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
3. Roček, Z. (1995). "Heterochrony: response of amphibia to cooling events" (PDF). Geolines. Praha. 3: 55–58.
4. Roček, Z. (1996). "The salamander Brachycormus noachicus from the Oligocene of Europe, and the role of neoteny in the evolution of salamanders". Palaeontology. 39: 477–495.