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Diplocaulus, aka "Boomerang Head"
(Reader Contribution to 10 Most Amazing Extinct Animals)
The weirdest species the team has found in the Red Beds is the ?Boomerang Head,? or, as it's officially known, the species Diplocaulus, meaning "two tailed," a reference to its double-spined tail bones.
It has an extrememly odd-looking body, with a flattened body and legs. The head, however, is pulled out to the sides in the shape of a boomerang - so extremely that by adulthood, the head could be 4 to 6 times wider than it was long. It was armor plated as well, with extremely strong jaws.
Some scientists contend that this shape may have helped Diplocaulus glide through the water - but the flattened lower body could not have contained the muscles of a strong swimmer. It's much more likely that this was an ambush predator, who waited unseen on the bottom of a murky river until unwary prey came along.
It's also possible that the skull served as a defensive mechanism - in which Diplocaulus may have used the points of its head as sideways horns to punch with - or as an aid for mating. Since Diplocaulus' eyes were on the top of its head, finding and impressing a mate by sight would be near impossible. So, a larger skull makes a love connection much more likely.
sent by Grga Kraljevic
12/23/2009
source: http://hmnspaleo.blogspot.com/2007/10/diplocaulus-aka-boomerang-head.html
2 votes
12/23/2009
source: http://hmnspaleo.blogspot.com/2007/10/diplocaulus-aka-boomerang-head.html
2 votes
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