 Temnospondyls have been known since the early 19th century , and were initially thought to be reptiles . They were described at various times as batrachians , stegocephalians , and labyrinthodonts , although these names are now rarely used . Animals now grouped in Temnospondyli were spread out among several amphibian groups until the early 20th century , when they were found to belong to a distinct taxon based on the structure of their vertebrae . Temnospondyli means " cut vertebrae " , as each vertebra is divided into several parts . 
 Temnospondyls <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>have</mark></a> been known since the early 19th century , and <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> initially thought to be reptiles . They <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> described at various times as batrachians , stegocephalians , and labyrinthodonts , although these names are now rarely used . Animals now grouped in Temnospondyli <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> spread out among several amphibian groups until the early 20th century , when they <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> found to belong to a distinct taxon based on the structure of their vertebrae . Temnospondyli <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>means</mark></a> " cut vertebrae " , as each vertebra is divided into several parts . 
Temnospondyls done been known since the early 19th century , and was initially thought to be reptiles . They was described at various times as batrachians , stegocephalians , and labyrinthodonts , although dese names are now rarely used . Animals now grouped in Temnospondyli was spread out among several amphibian groups until the early 20th century , when they was found to belong to a distinct taxon based on the structure of their vertebrae . Temnospondyli mean " cut vertebrae " , as each vertebra is divided into several parts .