From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Suborder of salamanders
The Cryptobranchoidea are a
suborder of
salamanders found in Asia, European Russia, and the United States. They are known as primitive salamanders, in contrast to
Salamandroidea, the advanced salamanders.
[1] It has two living subdivisions,
Cryptobranchidae, which includes
Asian giant salamanders and
hellbenders, and
Hynobiidae, commonly known as Asian salamanders.
Some species of the fully aquatic family
Cryptobranchidae are known as giant salamanders due to their large size.
The oldest members of the group are known from the
Middle Jurassic (
Bathonian) aged
Yanliao Biota of China.
[2]
Taxonomy
This suborder contains only two families at present. All other members are extinct and are only known as fossils.
-
†
Chunerpeton
Haifanggou Formation, China, Middle Jurassic (
Bathonian) (
neotenic, has alternatively been recovered outside of Cryptobranchoidea)
[3]
-
†
Jeholotriton Haifanggou Formation, China, Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) (neotenic)
-
†
Pangerpeton Haifanggou Formation, China, Middle Jurassic (Bathonian)
-
†
Nesovtriton
Bissekty Formation, Uzbekistan, Late Cretaceous (
Turonian)
-
†
Iridotriton
Morrison Formation, United States, Late Jurassic (
Tithonian)
-
†
Kiyatriton
Itat Formation, Russia, Middle Jurassic (Bathonian)
Ilek Formation, Russia, Early Cretaceous (
Barremian-
Aptian) (Presumed to be a cryptobranchoid)
-
†
Laccotriton Fengshan fossil bed, China, Late Jurassic (Tithonian)
-
†
Sinerpeton Fengshan fossil bed, China, Late Jurassic (Tithonian)
-
Cryptobranchidae (Late Cretaceous-Recent)
- Panhynobia
[2]
-
†
Liaoxitriton Jiufotang Formation, China, Early Cretaceous (Aptian)
-
†
Linglongtriton
Tiaojishan Formation, China, Late Jurassic (
Oxfordian)
-
†
Neimengtriton Haifanggou Formation, China, Middle Jurassic (Bathonian)
-
†
Regalerpeton
Dabeigou Formation, China, Early Cretaceous (
Hauterivian)
-
†
Nuominerpeton
Longjiang Formation, China, Early Cretaceous (Aptian)
-
Hynobiidae (
Miocene-Recent)
References