| Diplocaulidae Temporal range: Late Carboniferous - Late Permian | |
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| A skeletal diagram of Diplocaulus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Sarcopterygii |
| Clade: | Tetrapodomorpha |
| Order: | † Nectridea |
| Family: | † Diplocaulidae Cope, 1881 |
| Subgroups | |
| Synonyms | |
The Diplocaulidae ("double cauls") is an extinct family of "nectridean" tetrapodomorphs that arose during the Late Carboniferous and died out in the Late Permian. [1] They are distinguished by the presence of strange, horn-like protrusions jutting out from the rear of their skulls; in some genera said protrusions gave their heads an almost boomerang-like outline.