Hemicyclaspis

Hemicyclaspis (meaning half-round shield or semicircle plate) is an extinct genus of primitive jawless fish, closely related to Cephalaspis, that lived in the Devonian period in what is now Europe and North America. A typical cephalaspid, Hemicyclaspis had a heavily armored, shovel-shaped headshield. It is thought to have been a better swimmer than most of its relatives because of its powerful tail, stabilizing dorsal fin and the keel-shaped hydrodynamic edges of its head shield. Hemicyclaspis probably foraged the ocean floor for food.[1]

Hemicyclaspis
Temporal range: Early Devonian
H. murchisoni and Thyestes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
โ€ Osteostraci
Order:
Atelaspidiformes
Genus:
Hemicyclaspis

Hemicyclaspis grew to a length of 5 inches (13 centimeters) and would most likely have fed on particles from the muddy sea bed.

Life reconstruction of Hemicyclaspis murchisoni

References
  • Parker, Steve. Dinosaurus: the complete guide to dinosaurs. Firefly Books Inc, 2003. Pg. 58
  1. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 25. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.


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