[1] Embolomeres were among the earliest large carnivorous tetrapods, with members such as the crocodilian-like Proterogyrinus appearing in the Visean stage of the Carboniferous.

Embolomeri was differentiated from several other newly named amphibian orders, such as "Rachitomi", by the presence of intercentra and pleurocentra of the same size and shape, that being large cylinders.

[4] The genus name "Cricotus" is dubious, as it has been used by Cope to refer to embolomere fossils spanning anywhere between mid-Pennsylvanian deposits of Illinois and the Permian red beds of Texas.

However, other authors use the term "Anthracosauria" in reference to a broader group which includes embolomeres in combination with various other reptile-like amphibians (reptiliomorphs).

In this situation, various traditional orders of Tetrapoda such as Embolomeri and Temnospondyli actually would qualify as stem-tetrapods due to having evolved prior to the split between modern amphibians and amniotes.

[12] Below is a cladogram from Ruta et al. (2003):[11] Eucritta melanolimnetes Temnospondyli Caerorhachis bairdi Eoherpeton watsoni Proterogyrinus scheelei Archeria crassidisca Pholiderpeton scutigerum Anthracosaurus russelli Pholiderpeton (Eogyrinus) attheyi Gephyrostegidae Solenodonsaurus janenschi Seymouriamorpha Lepospondyli Diadectomorpha Amniota Papposaurus