Hemicyclaspis Temporal range:
| |
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H. murchisoni and Thyestes | |
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Life reconstruction. | |
Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | † Osteostraci |
Order: | † Atelaspidiformes |
Family: | † Ateleaspididae |
Genus: | † Hemicyclaspis |
Hemicyclaspis ( lit. 'half-round shield' or 'semicircle plate') is an extinct genus of primitive jawless fish, closely related to Cephalaspis, that lived in the Late Silurian ( Pridoli) [1] to Devonian period in what is now Europe and North America. A typical cephalaspid, Hemicyclaspis had a heavily armored, shovel-shaped headshield. It is thought to have been a better swimmer than most of its relatives because of its powerful tail, stabilizing dorsal fin and the keel-shaped hydrodynamic edges of its head shield. Hemicyclaspis probably foraged the ocean floor for food. [2]
Hemicyclaspis grew to a length of 5 inches (13 centimeters) and would most likely have fed on particles from the muddy sea bed.
Hemicyclaspis Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
![]() | |
H. murchisoni and Thyestes | |
![]() | |
Life reconstruction. | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | † Osteostraci |
Order: | † Atelaspidiformes |
Family: | † Ateleaspididae |
Genus: | † Hemicyclaspis |
Hemicyclaspis ( lit. 'half-round shield' or 'semicircle plate') is an extinct genus of primitive jawless fish, closely related to Cephalaspis, that lived in the Late Silurian ( Pridoli) [1] to Devonian period in what is now Europe and North America. A typical cephalaspid, Hemicyclaspis had a heavily armored, shovel-shaped headshield. It is thought to have been a better swimmer than most of its relatives because of its powerful tail, stabilizing dorsal fin and the keel-shaped hydrodynamic edges of its head shield. Hemicyclaspis probably foraged the ocean floor for food. [2]
Hemicyclaspis grew to a length of 5 inches (13 centimeters) and would most likely have fed on particles from the muddy sea bed.