Hadrosteus

Hadrosteus is an extinct monospecific genus of large arthrodire placoderm from the Late Frasnian (Late Devonian) Kellwasserkalk facies of Bad Wildungen, Germany.^[1] It had large, double-pronged inferognathals (lower jawbones), and serrated edges along its mandible, strongly suggesting that it was a fish-eating predator. The head had a triangular snout, and the trunkshield was short, but high, with a median dorsal plate that was broader than wide. The average skull length is about 16 centimeters.^[1]

Hadrosteus Temporal range: Late Devonian: Frasnian, 382.7–372.2 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Artist's reconstruction
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	†Placodermi
Order:	†Arthrodira
Suborder:	†Brachythoraci
Clade:	†Eubrachythoraci
Clade:	†Pachyosteomorphi
Clade:	†Aspinothoracidi
Genus:	†Hadrosteus Gross, 1932
Species
Hadrosteus rapax Gross, 1932 (type)

Etymology

The type species Hadrosteus rapax means "Rapacious Strong-Bone".^[1]

Phylogeny

Hadrosteus is a member of the clade Aspinothoracidi, which belongs to the clade Pachyosteomorphi, one of the two major clades within Eubrachythoraci. The cladogram below shows the phylogeny of Hadrosteus:^[2]

Eubrachythoraci

Coccosteomorphi Pachyosteomorphi Rhachiosteus pterygiatus Dunkleosteoidea Eastmanosteus calliaspis Eastmanosteus pustulosus Kiangyousteus yohii Golshanichthys asiatica Westralichthys uwagedensis Dunkleosteus raveri Dunkleosteus terrelli Dunkleosteus amblyodoratus Heterostiidae Heterosteus ingens Yinosteus major Aspinothoracidi Tapinosteus heintzi Bullerichthys fascidens Kendrickichthys cavernosus Bruntonichthys multidens Dinichthys herzeri Hadrosteus rapax Gorgonichthys clarki Selenosteidae Heintzichthys gouldii Pachyosteus bulla Gymnotrachelus hydei Stenosteus angustopectus Brachyosteus dietrichi Melanosteus occitanus Rhinosteus parvulus