Loxolobus

Loxolobus is a genus of extinct stegocephalian temnospondyl amphibians that lived during the Late Carboniferous and Early Permian periods in what is now Europe and North America. The name Loxolobus, meaning "oblique lobe," refers to the shape of the ilium, a bone in the pelvis. These amphibians were characterized by their relatively small size, with adults typically measuring between 30 and 60 centimeters in length. They possessed a robust skeleton, a broad, flattened skull, and short, stout limbs. The diet of Loxolobus is believed to have consisted mainly of small invertebrates and possibly small vertebrates, which they likely hunted in shallow aquatic environments or on land. Their fossilized remains are often found in freshwater deposits, suggesting a semi-aquatic lifestyle. Several species have been described, including Loxolobus striatus and Loxolobus minutus, distinguished by variations in skull morphology and vertebral characters. Loxolobus belongs to the family Loxomimidae within the order Temnospondyli, a diverse group of amphibians that flourished during the Paleozoic Era. The extinction of Loxolobus, along with many other temnospondyls, is thought to be linked to climatic changes and increased competition from early reptiles.