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Pteraspis

Extinct genus of jawless fishes

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Restoration of the pteraspidid heterostracan agnathan, Pteraspis rostrata, of Early Devonian Europe
Apokryltaros · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Description

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. Some records are found in association with marine fossils, while some others are found in freshwater environments.

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

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Monotypic taxonTaxonomic group with only one subordinate taxonSpecies descriptionFormal description of a discovered speciesParaphylyType of taxonomic groupIUCN Red ListInventory of the global conservation status of biological speciesSubtropicsGeographic and climate zoneCommon nameName generally used for a taxon, group of taxa or organism(s)