Ateleaspis

Ateleaspis is an extinct genus of primitive ostracoderm fish that lived in the Silurian period (Wenlock Epoch) to the Lower Devonian.^[1][2] Like other ostracoderms, Ateleaspis had a head shield similar to that of Cephalaspis. Species from Silurian period were found in Norway and Scotland, but now has been found also in Siberia from Early Devonian period.

Ateleaspis Temporal range: Wenlock to Lower Devonian 440–371.9 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Ateleaspis tessellata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Infraphylum:	Agnatha
Class:	†Osteostraci
Order:	†Atelaspidiformes
Family:	†Ateleaspididae
Genus:	†Ateleaspis Traquair, 1899
Species:	†A. tessellata
Binomial name
†Ateleaspis tessellata Traquair, 1899

Description

Ateleaspis possibly is the most basal vertebrate with paired fins. Ateleaspis was a small fish (about 15 – 20 cm) and had a flat headshield and a narrow trunk covered by brick-like scales.