Paleontology ? Early Placoderm Fish
Early Placodermi Fish will be the topic of discussion on Natures Talk Show Fine Art of Paleontology. The extinct armored fishes known as placoderms make up what is considered to be the earliest branch of the gnathostome family tree ? the earliest branch of the jawed fishes. Placoderms bore heavy bony armor on the head and neck, often with an unusual joint in the dorsal armor between the head and neck regions; this joint apparently allowed the head to move upwards as the jaw dropped downwards, creating a larger gape. However, most of the body was either naked or, less commonly, covered with small scales. Both of the placoderms shown above had long bodies with heterocercal (asymmetrical, shark-like) tails extending past the head armor.
Source: zenolive
Paleontology ? Early Placoderm Fish
zenolive
Paleontology ? Early Placoderm Fish
