Quasipetalichthyidae

Quasipetalichthyidae is an extinct^[2] family of primitive petalichthyid placoderms from Givetian-aged marine strata of Yunnan, China, and possibly Vietnam.

Quasipetalichthyidae Temporal range: Givetian
Quasipetalichthys, the type genus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	†Placodermi
Order:	†Petalichthyida
Family:	†Quasipetalichthyidae
Type genus
Quasipetalichthys Liu, 1973
Genera[1]
Eurycaraspis Quasipetalichthys

Anatomy

The family differ from the more advanced macropetalichthyids by having more squared skulls that have the eye sockets placed on the side of their skulls, rather than nearer to the center. More basal petalichthyids, such as Diandongpetalichthys and Neopetalichthys, differ from the Quasipetalichthyidae by having comparatively elongated skulls.

Synapomorphies of the family include the presence of a posterior descending lamina, the absence of a supraorbital process, the posterior position of the ossification center of the nuchal plate, and the roundness of the preorbital plate.^[3]