Silurolepis

Silurolepis
Temporal range: Ludlow
Artist's reconstruction
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Class: Placodermi
Order: Antiarchi
Family: Silurolepidae
Genus: Silurolepis
Species: S. platydorsalis
Binomial name
Silurolepis platydorsalis
Zhang, 2010

Silurolepis platydorsalis is the, as yet, only Silurian-aged antiarch placoderm that has been described from (mostly) articulated remains. Although it has been known for several years, it was finally described by Zhang, et al., in 2010.[1] The earliest described placoderm is the yunnanolepid antiarch, Shimenolepis, from Llandovery Hunan. In contrast to S. platydorsalis, Shimenolepis is known only from distinctively ornamented thoracic armor plates that bear anatomic features unique to yunnanolepids.[2][3]

S. platydorsalis is known from thoracic armor: as the specific name suggests, the dorsal side is very flat.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Zhang, Guo-Rui; Shi-Tao Wang; Jun-Qing Wang; Nian-Zhong Wang; Min Zhu (2010). "A basal antiarch (placoderm fish) from the Silurian of Qujing, Yunnan, China". Palaeoworld. 19 (1-2): 129–135. doi:10.1016/j.palwor.2009.11.006.
  2. Burrow, Carol & Turner, Susan (September 1998). "A review of placoderm scales, and their significance in placoderm phylogeny". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 19 (2): 204–219. doi:10.1080/02724634.1999.10011135.
  3. Wang Junqing (1991). "The Antiarchi From Early Silurian Hunan" (PDF). Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 21 (3): 240–244.
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