Conjunctio

For the geomantic figure, see Conjunctio (geomancy).

Conjunctio is an extinct genus of dissorophid temnospondyl amphibian from the early Permian of New Mexico. The type species, Conjunctio multidens, was named by paleontologist Robert L. Carroll in 1964.

Conjunctio Temporal range: 299–270 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Lower Permian
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Order:	†Temnospondyli
Family:	†Dissorophidae
Genus:	†Conjunctio Carroll, 1964
Type species
†Cunjunctio multidens Carroll, 1964

History of study

The holotype specimen was found in 1911 in the Lower Permian Abo Formation in New Mexico. It consists of the skull and postcranial material including femora, humeri, scapulae, pelvis, a section of the vertebral column, and osteoderms. It was originally described by Case et al. (1913) as a referred specimen of Aspidosaurus (sometimes "Broiliellus") novomexicanus but was subsequently determined to be a distinct species by Carroll (1964).^[1][2] Carroll also identified a third specimen of Conjunctio, which he did not refer specifically to C. multidens; this was subsequently referred to as the "Admiral Taxon" (because it came from the Admiral Formation of Texas) by most workers until it was formalized as a distinct genus and species, Scapanops neglecta, by Schoch & Sues (2013).^[3] These authors also provided an updated description and illustration of C. multidens.

Phylogenetic position

Conjunctio is typically recovered as a basal eucacopine.^[3]

Dissorophidae	Platyhystrix Aspidosaurus Dissorophinae Dissorophus Broiliellus texensis Broiliellus brevis Eucacopinae Conjunctio Scapanops Cacops aspidephorus Cacops morrisi Cacops woehri Kamacops Zygosaurus