The descriptions and diagnoses of the type species of ParamblypterusParamblypterusdecorus, and the type species of Amblypterus Amblypterus latus, which is very similar to Paramblypterus, are revised. The skulls of Paramblypterusdecorus P. duvernoyi, and A. latus are restored in three‐dimensional models, and their diagnoses are emended. Intra‐specific variation of P.decorusP. duvernoyi concerns dermohyal, ‘suborbital’ and extrascapular bones, and dermohyal, rostral, parietal and extrascapular bones, respectively. Owing to poor preservation, patterns of variation could only be recognised in one specimen of A. latus regarding the extrascapular series and the posterior edges of the scales. All data on AmblypterusParamblypterus were entered into a PAUP analysis. Fifty taxa of lower actinopterygians were analysed for 57 characters. According to this analysis, ParamblypterusAmblypterus are contained in the same family, the Amblypteridae. P. gelbertiP. duvernoyi are the sister group of P. rohani and P. decorus, and the genus Paramblypterus is the sister taxon of the genus Amblypterus. Key words. morphology, intra‐specific variation, systematics, lower actinopterygians, amblypterids, paramblypterids, Permo‐Carboniferous.