Captorhinidae (also known as cotylosaurs, or 'stem reptiles') were the earliest and most primitive reptiles. They are a clade of small lizard-like reptiles that date from the late Carboniferous through the Permian. Their skulls were much stronger than their ancestors, the Protorothyrididae and had teeth that was better able to deal with tough plant material.

Cladogram

REPTILOMORPHA |--SYNAPSIDA `--+--ANAPSIDA | Eureptilia |--Captorhinidae | `--Concordia | `--Romeria | `--Rhiodenticulatus | `--Protocaptorhinus | `--Saurorictus | `--Captorhinus | `--Labidosaurus | `--Moradisaurinae `--+--Protorothyrididae

External links

• Captorhinidae Cladogram
• Concordia Cunninghami, the earliest example Captorhinidae.

Reptiles