embolomerids

Embolomerids are a group of extinct tetrapodomorphs that lived during the late Carboniferous and early Permian periods, approximately 315 to 270 million years ago. They are characterized by their unique combination of features, including a long, slender body, a large head with a broad snout, and a pair of large, triangular teeth at the front of the mouth. These teeth are believed to have been used for grasping and manipulating prey, rather than for biting or crushing.

Embolomerids are thought to have been semi-aquatic or fully aquatic animals, with a lifestyle similar to that of modern-day crocodilians. They are known from a variety of fossil sites in North America, Europe, and Asia, and are considered to be one of the earliest known groups of tetrapods to have evolved a fully aquatic lifestyle.

The exact relationships of embolomerids to other tetrapodomorphs are still a topic of debate among paleontologists. Some researchers have suggested that they may be closely related to the ancestors of modern amphibians, while others have proposed that they are more closely related to the ancestors of modern reptiles. Regardless of their exact evolutionary relationships, embolomerids are an important group of fossils that provide valuable insights into the early evolution of tetrapods and the origins of modern amphibians and reptiles.