Arctolepis

Arctolepis

 extinct genus of placoderms (fishlike animals) present during the early part of the Devonian Period (416 million to 360 million years ago), member of a group known as the arthrodires, or jointed-neck fishes. Arctolepis had a bony head and trunk shield but was unarmoured behind the trunk region; the body tapered to a pointed tail; a tail fin was developed only on the lower margin of the tail. Arctolepis was a small animal, less than 30 cm (12 inches) in length but with enormously developed pectoral spines that must have been some aid to swimming and possibly a deterrent to keep from being swallowed.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Arctolepis — Taxobox name = Arctolepis fossil range = Early Devonian regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata subphylum = Vertebrata infraphylum = Gnathostomata classis = Placodermi ordo = Arthrodira familia = Phlyctaeniidae genus = Arctolepis species = A. brevis… …   Wikipedia

  • arthrodire — arthrodiran /ahr threuh duy reuhn/, arthrodirous, adj. /ahr threuh duyeur /, n. any of numerous fishes of the extinct order Arthrodira, widely distributed during the Devonian Period, having the anterior part of the body covered by a shield of… …   Universalium

  • Arthrodira — Taxobox name = Arthrodira image width = 250px image caption = Dunkleosteus terrelli fossil range = Late Silurian? to Late Devonian regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata subphylum = Vertebrata infraphylum = Gnathostomata classis = Placodermi ordo =… …   Wikipedia

  • Phlyctaeniidae — Taxobox name = Phlyctaeniidae fossil range = Devonian regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata subphylum = Vertebrata infraphylum = Gnathostomata classis = Placodermi ordo = Arthrodira familia = Phlyctaeniidae subdivision ranks = Genera subdivision =… …   Wikipedia

  • Dicksonosteus — Temporal range: Early Devonian Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum …   Wikipedia

  • Neophlyctaenius — Temporal range: Late Devonian Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum …   Wikipedia

  • Diadsomaspis — Temporal range: Late Devonian Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum …   Wikipedia

  • Devon — De|von 〈[ vo:n] n.; s; unz.; Geol.〉 Formation des Paläozoikums (zw. Silur u. Karbon) vor 360 290 Mio. Jahren mit Meeresüberflutungen u. beginnender variszischer Gebirgsbildung [nach der engl. Grafschaft Devonshire] * * * De|von, das; [s] [nach… …   Universal-Lexikon

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