Compagopiscis

Compagopiscis is an extinct genus of placoderm known from the Gogo Formation. It lived in the Upper Devonian (Frasnian stage) of Western Australia.^[1] The genus is monotypic, with its only species being Compagopiscis croucheri.^[2]

Compagopiscis Temporal range: Late Devonian: Frasnian, 382.7–372.2 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	†Placodermi
Order:	†Arthrodira
Suborder:	†Brachythoraci
Clade:	†Eubrachythoraci
Clade:	†Coccosteomorphi
Superfamily:	†Incisoscutoidea
Genus:	†Compagopiscis Gardiner & Miles, 1994
Species
Compagopiscis croucheri Gardiner & Miles, 1994 (type)

Description

Compagopiscis is one of the earliest known vertebrates to have teeth.^[3] An analysis of its bite force suggests that it was a generalist predator, having a diverse diet.^[4] Fossils have been found in numbers, suggesting possible schooling behavior.^[4]

Phylogeny

Compagopiscis was originally classified as a member of the family Plourdosteidae.^[5] However, phylogenetic analysis later found Plourdosteidae to be an invalid grouping, and the family was dismissed.^[6] Torosteus is now considered to be a member of the superfamily Incisoscutoidea, which belongs to the clade Coccosteomorphi, one of the two major clades within Eubrachythoraci. The cladogram below shows the phylogeny of Compagopiscis:^[7]

Eubrachythoraci

Coccosteomorphi Coccosteoidea Coccosteidae Millerosteus minor Coccosteus cuspidatus Dickosteus threiplandi Watsonosteus fletti Protitanichthys rockportensis Panxiosteidae Plourdosteus canadensis Panxiosteus ocullus Janiosteus timanicus Incisoscutoidea Harrytoombsia elegans Torosteus tuberculatus Torosteus pulchellus Mcnamaraspis kaprios Compagopiscis croucheri Trematosteus fontanellus Camuropiscidae Incisoscutum ritchiei Incisoscutum sarahae Rolfosteus canningensis Tubonasus lennardensis Fallacosteus turneri Camuropiscis laidlawi Latocamurus coulthardi Pachyosteomorphi