Weigeltaspis

Weigeltaspis
Temporal range: Late Silurian–Early Devonian
Reconstruction of Weigeltaspis alta
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Heterostraci
Order: incertae sedis
Family: Weigeltaspididae
Genus: Weigeltaspis
Type species
Weigeltaspis alta
Brotzen, 1933
Species
  • Weigeltaspis alta Brotzen, 1933
  • Weigeltaspis brotzeni Tarlo, 1964
  • Weigeltaspis godmani Tarlo, 1964
  • Weigeltaspis heintzi Tarlo, 1964

Weigeltaspis is a genus of extinct heterostracan agnathan fish known from the Late Silurian and Early Devonian periods. Fossils are known primarily from Early Devonian-aged marine strata of Europe and Canada. Fragments and disarticulated plates of what may be of Weigeltaspis are known from Late Silurian-aged marine strata of Arctic Canada. Rare articulated fossils, plus the overall anatomy of its plates suggest the living animals were, at least superficially, similar to psammosteids, some authorities, such as Tarlo, place them within Psammosteida.[1] Because the ornamentation on the plates and scales are very similar to the ornamentation seen on the plates and scales of Traquairaspis to the point of constant confusion, other authorities follow the lead of Obruchev, and place Weigeltaspis within Traquairaspidiformes.[1] Still other authorities remain unconvinced of either side, and, instead, follow Denison's lead to simply treat Weigeltaspis as incertae sedis.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Tarlo, Halstead. "LB t1965) Psammosteiformes tAgnatha)—A review with descriptions of new material from the Lower Devonian of Poland, II. Systematic Part." Palaeontologia Polonica 15: 168. Pages 20-21
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