Embolomeri

Embolomeri is an extinct order of reptiles that lived during the Carboniferous and Permian periods. They are characterized by their distinctive vertebral structure, where the intercentrum is greatly expanded and forms the majority of the vertebral body, while the pleurocentrum is reduced to a small dorsal cap. This contrasts with most other tetrapods, where the pleurocentrum is the dominant component. Embolomeres are often grouped within the reptiliomorphs, a clade that includes reptiles and their closest extinct relatives.

Fossil evidence for embolomeres is primarily found in Europe and North America. These animals were typically semi-aquatic, with some genera possessing long, flattened tails, suggesting adaptation for swimming. Their limbs were generally robust, indicating they were capable of terrestrial locomotion, though likely not as agile as more derived tetrapods. The diet of embolomeres is inferred to have consisted of fish and other aquatic organisms, based on their dentition and the paleoenvironment in which they are found.

Notable genera within Embolomeri include Pholiderpeton, Eobaphetes, and Archeria. Pholiderpeton, from the Late Carboniferous of England, is one of the best-known embolomeres, providing significant insight into their anatomy. Archeria, from the Early Permian of North America, is another important representative, displaying the characteristic embolomerous vertebrae. The study of embolomeres helps paleontologists understand the early evolution of tetrapods and the transition from aquatic to terrestrial life. They represent a successful, albeit extinct, lineage of early amniote relatives.