A taxonomic revision of Batropetes (Amphibia, Microsauria) from the Rotliegend (basal Permian) of Germany

The genus Batropetes is one of the most completely preserved representatives of the microsaur family Brachystelechidae. Previously, the only species to be described was Batropetes fritschi, based on 19 mostly poorly preserved specimens from the Dohlen Basin in eastern Germany, and one referred specimen from the Saar-Nahe Basin in western Germany. Reexamination of this material demonstrates that the referred specimen differs from the type material, and it is named Batropetes niederkirchensis n. sp. in this study. The two species differ in the shape of the prefrontal and postorbital, the width of the interorbital region, the number of presacral vertebrae, the degree of ossification of the scapulocoracoid, and the position of the obturator foramen. The functional interpretation of the skull and the locomotion apparatus suggests that the genus was terrestrial, living near the lakes, where they are preserved in the sediments.