Pteraspididae is an extinct family of heterostracan vertebrates. It is an Early Devonian-aged family that contains the stereotypical, torpedo-shaped pteraspidids, such as the type genus, Pteraspis, and its close relatives Errivaspis and Rhinopteraspis, that are popularly thought to have actively swam about in the water column. The elongated rostral plate is thought to help with their hydrodynamic ability. Various genera are found in various marine and estuarine strata of Early Devonian Europe and North America.
| Pteraspididae Temporal range: Early to Middle Devonian
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| Artist's restoration of Larnovaspis | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Infraphylum: | Agnatha |
| Class: | †Pteraspidomorphi |
| Subclass: | †Heterostraci |
| Order: | †Pteraspidiformes |
| Suborder: | †Pteraspidoidei |
| Family: | †Pteraspididae Claypole, 1885 |
| Type genus | |
| †Pteraspis Kner & Woodward, 1900
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| Genera | |
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See text | |
| Synonyms | |
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Pteraspidae (paraphyletic) | |
Genera
editReferences
edit- On the recent discovery of Pteraspidian fish in the upper Silurian rocks of North America. Edward Waller Claypole, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. 1885, volume 41, pages 48–64, doi:10.1144/GSL.JGS.1885.041.01-04.10
- Revised classification of Pteraspididae with description of new forms from Wyoming. Robert Howland Denison, Fieldiana. Geology; v. 20, no. 1, doi:10.5962/bhl.title.3330
External links
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Data related to Pteraspididae at Wikispecies- Pteraspididae at fossilworks.org (retrieved 17 April 2016)
- "Pteraspididae" at the Encyclopedia of Life
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