Brachydeiroidea is a superfamily of small to moderately large-sized arthrodire placoderms from the Late Devonian of Europe and Eastern North America.

Brachydeiroidea
Temporal range: Middle to Late Frasnian
Restoration of B. grandis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Placodermi
Order: Arthrodira
Suborder: Brachythoraci
Infraorder: Coccosteina
Superfamily: Brachydeiroidea
Denison, 1978
Type species
Brachydeirus carinatus
Gross, 1932
Families

Brachydeiroids have, in cross section, a highly compressed body, a pointed, sometimes highly elongated snout, and tremendous orbits.[1] The plates of the trunk shield are noticeably shortened: in Synauchenia, the trunk shield and head shield are fused together as a single, immovable unit.[2] The superficial anatomy of brachydeiroids is extremely diverse.[1]

Families

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Brachydeiridae

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A diverse family of variable forms, restricted to the middle to late Frasnian of Europe.

Leptosteidae

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This family is represented by two species in the genus Leptosteus. Leptosteids differ from brachydeirids by having comparatively smaller orbits and more elongated trunk shields.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Denison, Robert (1978). Handbook of Paleoichthyology, Volume 2, Placodermi. New York: Gustav Fischer Verlage. p. 73. ISBN 9780895740274.
  2. ^ Denison, Robert (1978). Handbook of Paleoichthyology, Volume 2, Placodermi. New York: Gustav Fischer Verlage. p. 74. ISBN 9780895740274.