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Diplocaulus Fossil range: 299–251 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Early to Late Permian
Diplocaulus magnicornus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Subclass:	†Lepospondyli
Order:	Nectridea
Family:	Keraterpetontidae
Genus:	Diplocaulus
Species
D. salamandroides (type) D. magnicornis

Diplocaulus ("double caul") is an extinct genus of leponspondyl amphibian from the Permian period of North America.

Diplocaulus had a stocky, salamander-like body, but was relatively large, reaching up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) in length. Its most distinctive features were the long protrusions on the sides of its skull, giving the head a boomerang shape. Judging from its weak limbs and relatively short tail, it is presumed to have swum with an up-and-down movement of its body, not unlike cetaceans today. The wide head could have acted like a hydrofoil, helping the creature glide through the water. Another possibility is that the shape was defensive, since even a large predator would have a hard time trying to swallow a creature with such a wide head.^[1]

A close cousin of Diplocaulus is Diploceraspis.

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