Rolfosteus

Rolfosteus
Temporal range: Frasnian
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Placodermi
Order: Arthrodira
Family: Camuropiscidae
Genus: Rolfosteus
Species: R. canningensis

Rolfosteus canningensis is an extinct species of arthrodire placoderm from the late Devonian of the Gogo Formation of Western Australia.

The 15 cm (6 in) long creature had tough plating on the front of its body. Like other arthrodires such as Coccosteus and the giant Dunkleosteus it had sharp, bony plates in its mouth which formed a turtle-like beak for cutting prey to pieces. Rolfosteus's most unusual feature was its highly elongated snout, which may have been used to enhance its sense of smell, as well as increase its hydrodynamic streamlining.

References

Long, John A. The Rise of Fishes: 500 Million Years of Evolution Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996. ISBN 0-8018-5438-5


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