Shimenolepis

Shimenolepis granifera is an extinct yunnanolepid placoderm from the Xiaoxi Formation, Li County, Hunan, China. Its age is discussed, while originally considered as late Llandovery, it is later considered to belong to the Ludlow Epoch instead.^[1] It was the first described Silurian placoderm, and was the earliest known placoderm until Xiushanosteus was described,^[2] known from distinctively ordered plates.

Shimenolepis Temporal range: Ludfordian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Shimenolepis granifera
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Placodermi
Order:	Yunnanolepiformes
Genus:	Shimenolepis
Type species
Shimenolepis granifera Junqing, 1991

Description

Plates

Shimenolepis plates are very similar to the early Devonian yunnanolepid Zhanjilepis, also known from distinctively ornamented plates.^[3]