Dvinosaurs are one of several new clades of temnospondyls named in the phylogenetic review of the group by Yates and Warren 2000.

They represent a group of primitive semi-aquatic to completely aquatic temnospondyls, and are known from the Late Carboniferous to the Early Triassic, being most common in the Permian period.

Their distinguishing characteristics are a reduction of the otic notch; the loss of a flange on the rear side of the pterygoid; and 28 or more presacral vertebrae.

A 2008 phylogenetic analysis found Eobrachyopidae to be paraphyletic, representing a grade of basal dvinosauroids.

Below is a cladogram showing the phylogenetic relationships of dvinosaurs from Englehorn et al. (2008):[2] Trimerorhachis Neldasaurus Perryella Isodectes (Eobrachyopidae) Acroplous (Eobrachyopidae) Dvinosauridae Kourerpetidae Slaugenhopia Tupilakosaurus Thabanchuia