Archipelepis

Archipelepis is a genus of extinct thelodont agnathans, and are the most primitive recognized thelodonts of which whole body fossils are known.^[2] Fossils of bodies and scales are currently known from Late Telychian to Wenlock-aged marine strata of northern Canada.^[3]

Archipelepis Temporal range: Late Telychian-Sheinwoodian
A. turbinata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	†Thelodonti
Order:	†Archipelepidiformes
Family:	†Archipelepididae
Genus:	†Archipelepis Märss in Soehn et al., 2001
Type species
†Archipelepis turbinata Märss in Soehn et al., 2001
Species
†Archipelepis bifurcata[1] †Archipelepis turbinata

Description

Both species have similar body morphology, in that both resembled tadpoles with forked tails. Scale morphology differs in that A. bifurcata has forked scales with two prong-like spires,^[1] and that A. turbinata has bulbous, pointed scales that resemble upside-down spinning tops.^[3]

The scales of Archipelepis are robust and abrasion-resistant, similar to modern sharks which live among rough substrates such as rocky caves or reefs.^[4][5]