POSTCRANIAL REMAINS OF BAPHETES AND THEIR BEARING ON THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THE BAPHETIDAE (=LOXOMMATIDAE)

The first unequivocal postcranial remains of baphetids (= loxommatids) associated with skull roof and lower jaw material are reported from a specimen of Baphetes from the English Upper Carboniferous, Duckmantia n. Characters of the mandible, including the incorporation in the symp hysis of paired parasymphysial plates, permit the identification of a previously indeterminate jaw from the Langsettian (Westphalian A) of N ova Scotia, as baphetid. The postcranial remains include vertebrae, pe ctoral and pelvic limb and limb girdle elements that present a combina tion of unique characters extending the diagnosis oi the family Baphet idae, together with plesiomophic and derived characters which suggest that baphetids are primitive stem group tetrapods. (C) 1998 The Linnea n Society of London.