Skull Schoch and Sues describe the skull of
Dissorophus multicinctus as "short and broad posteriorly". DeMar and Williston mention that the skull has two equal sides and it is flat posterior to the orbit, but curved and has depressions from anterior to margins. In addition, the skull surface shows deep circular pits or depressions situated on posterior portions of the frontals and bound by narrow ridges between them and thus difficult to distinguish sutures. According to DeMar, the skull depth increases posteriorly and decreases anteriorly when in lateral view. He points out another prominent feature of
Dissorophus which is an enlarged otic notch. Measuring up to 3.5 cm in length, the otic notch of
Dissorophus is relatively deeper than some members of the family Dissorophidae who possess shallow otic notches. The presence of an otic notch firmly assures that dissorophides are indeed unified with the amphibian family because this feature present in all amphibians and lost in later amniotes. DeMar also adds that the depth of the otic notch relates to the length of the skull. In this case, short skulls would have shallow otic notches and longer skulls would possess deeper otic notches. makes a similar observation as DeMar in
Broiliellus brevus that has a short skull and therefore a shallow otic notch, as expected. On the other hand, Bolt makes a crucial comment, that the specimens used to describe these anatomical features by both DeMar and Carroll are based on that assumption that they are in "adult configurations". DeMar mentions that the external nares is enlarged and measures up to 1 cm long in larger specimens. On this note, Williston adds that the external naris are elongated along the skull margins, resulting to an oval shaped outline and oriented laterally and anteriorly. The orbits of
Dissorophus are relatively large, circular, and oriented dorsally than laterally. As DeMar describes, the
orbits are large enough to intersect with the frontals,
palatines, post orbitals,
lacrimals, and
jugals. DeMar also makes points out a crucial feature that suggest why
Dissorophus and
Broileillus are closely related to one another than any other species. This feature at the region where
maxillary,
quadratojugal and
jugal meet. In this case, he illustrates that the
jugal overlaps the
quadratojugal and
maxillary, thus extending to the tooth rows. This feature was also observed by on
Broiliellus brevis,
Conjuctio and
Dissorophus angustus. Thus, this feature gives another explanation to the relationship between
Dissorophus and
Conjunctio, keeping in mind that
Dissorophus and
Broiliellus are more closely related to each other because they both have a pointed snout while Conjunctio does not. ] Another distinct feature that Dissorophus has is that the maxillary teeth extend further back ventral to the
squamosal. DeMar explains this extension of teeth further back correlates with the jugal overlap on the maxillary and quadratojugal. In addition, DeMar clarifies that the contact between vomer and pterygoid is lost resulting to
palatine contributing to an enlarged interpterygoid.
Lower Jaw ]Williston's anatomical analysis on
Dissorophus reveal that there are about thirty five teeth on the
dentary. Additionally, DeMar's mentions that the entire lower jaw is covered by dermal pitting except for the region of coronoid process. He also mentions that the
coronoid process extends anteriorly and serves as an attachment point for muscles and thus the most probable diet inferred would be a carnivore likely to prey on smaller animals such as insects and smaller animals. DeMar also comments on a distinctive feature that is only present in
Dissorophus multicinctus and not any other dissorophids. He explains the presence of a ventral flange that interrupts the continuity of the lower jaw. Connecting to the ventral flange is a pitted surface of angular that "continues on the ventral edge and projects medially forming a small shelf." He concludes that this arrangement of lower jaw is not found in any other dissopophid, however, the angular projection ventral to the ventral flange is also developed in
Briolielus.
Limbs Williston explains that the
humerus and
femur of
Dissorophus are solidly built and stouter. The humerus has "deep lateral curvatures and wide supracondicular ridges" while the femur is a lot stronger built compared to the humerus. He also mentions that the articular surface of
Dissorophus femur is "flattened with sharp rims on the antero-posterior convexity". He adds that both femur and humerus are both "expanded on the inner and outer side and narrow in the middle".
Carapace and Vertebrae The carapace is another distinctive feature present in
Dissorophus. Williston describes this feature as a heavy bony covering that is not necessarily broad, but long and heavy. The dorsal section is deeply pitted and the ventral section is rather smooth. In addition, Dilkes's findings show that the
osteoderm is composed of an internal section and external section that are "expanded laterally". His distinction between an internal and external section is such that the internal section is associated with a flange. The flanges are deeply notched and the edges of these notches serve as attachment points to the
neural spine, this explains his hardships in trying to decipher regions of the
neural spine. On the other hand, the external series are positioned anterior to the internal series. He also adds that both series are likely fused together by interosteodermal ligaments. This osteoderm feature that Dilkes makes directly correlates to Bolt's interpretations that
Dissorophus has a double layered osteoderm comprising both the internal series and external series. In terms of locomotion, Dilkes mentions that compared to
Cacops,
Dissorphus likely had a more flexible vertebral column in terms of
lateral flexion and axial rotation. Limitation to locomotion is solely based on anatomy of the osteoderms. As Dilkes explains, coupling between
lateral flexion and axial rotation throughout the vertebrae, translates to limited locomotion. In the case of
Cacops, Dilkes's interpretation on the 20-degree angle of inclination of the
zygapophyses indicate that coupling between
lateral flexion and axial rotation is highly limited. In addition, there is extensive overlap between internal series and external series which contributes to a limitation of
lateral flexion. In the case of
Dissorophus, Dilkes gives more detail that there is larger angle of inclinations of
zygapophyses indicating that there is greater coupling between the axial rotation and
lateral flexion despite insertion of the
flanges in the
neural spine. In conclusion, both DeMar and Dilkes clarify that the osteoderm growth covers the first sections of the anterior vertebral column and grows posteriorly with fusion of the next posterior vertebral sections. This means that reduction of flexibility starts anteriorly and proceeds posteriorly, thus it is likely that "as juveniles both
Cacops and
Dissorophus had greater vertebral flexibility" as mentioned by Dilkes. ==Paleoenvironment==