Buxierophus pouilloni n. gen. n. sp., a new dissorophid temnospondyl from the Lower Permian of France (Allier)

Abstract A new large dissorophid temnospondyl, Buxierophus pouilloni n. gen. n. sp., is described on the basis of a well-preserved adult skeleton found in the Lower Permian bituminous claystone of Buxières-les-Mines, a fossiliferous locality of the Bourbon-l’Archambault Basin (Allier, France). This new taxon, with a skull length of about 12 cm, is characterized by a unique combination of characters: dorsal midline series of osteoderms composed of two series of thin and unornamented osteoderms, some bearing conspicuous peaks dorsally; internal osteoderms with bi- or multi-lobed dorsal articulation surfaces; neural arches of the same length to that of the osteoderm. A phylogenetic analysis places Buxierophus pouilloni n. gen. n. sp. at the base of the Dissorophidae. This new dissorophid had a semi-aquatic lifestyle. It’s completely ossified ceratobranchial skeleton bears ceratobranchials with grooves as clear indication for its fish-like internal gills in adult stage. It represents the only Lower Permian dissorophid from Europe. Buxierophus n. gen. is part of a rich Permian fauna of the Buxières-les-Mines locality, which is considered as a relatively deep and large paleolake deposit. UUID: http://zoobank.org/pub/4bc42820-21f6-4674-88ff-eed8597733c3