A lapillopsid temnospondyl from the Early Triassic of India

A temnospondyl mandible from the Panchet Formation, described as Manubrantlia khaki, new genus and species, has several apomorphic characters that indicate it belongs to the Lapillopsidae, a taxon previously known only from the Early Triassic of Australia. The postglenoid area of the lower jaw of lapillopsids is quite similar to that of lydekkerinids. However, when other characters are considered, the two families do not form a clade exclusive of all other temnospondyls, indicating that the similarity in the morphology of the postglenoid area is probably the result of convergence.