Pteraspis

Pteraspis (from Greek: πτερόν pteron 'wing' or 'fin' and Greek: ἀσπίς aspís 'shield') is an extinct genus of pteraspidid heterostracan jawless fish. It existed from the Lochkovian to Eifelian epochs of the Devonian period in areas that are now the Americas and Europe.^[1]

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Quick facts Scientific classification, Type species ...

Pteraspis Temporal range: Lochkovian-Eifelian ~416–386 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N

Restoration of P. rostrata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Infraphylum:	Agnatha
Class:	†Pteraspidomorpha
Subclass:	†Heterostraci
Order:	†Pteraspidiformes
Family:	†Pteraspididae
Genus:	†Pteraspis Kner, 1847
Type species
Cephalaspis rostrata Agassiz, 1835
Species
P. rostrata (Agassiz, 1835) P. dunensis (Roemer, 1854) P. crouchi (Lankester, 1865)

Like other heterostracan fishes, Pteraspis had a protective armored plating covering the front of its body, and no fins other than a lobed tail. Despite this, Pteraspis had two wing-like protrusions derived from the armoured plates over its gills, and a single protrusion in the center of its back. This, along with its horn-like rostrum, possibly indicates good swimming ability. Pteraspis also has a series of stiff spines on its back, possibly as a form of protection against predators. It is thought to have fed from shoals of plankton just under the ocean surface.^[2] Some records are found in association with marine fossils,^[3]^[4] while some others are found in freshwater environments.^[5]

The largest recorded specimens of Pteraspis grew to an estimated length of 27 centimetres (11 in).^[6]

Description

Gallery

References

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