Gorgonichthys

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Gorgonichthys
Temporal range: Late Devonian: Famennian, 371.1–359.3  Ma
Gorgonichthys clarki reconstruction.png
Reconstruction of Gorgonichthys clarki
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Placodermi
Order: Arthrodira
Suborder: Brachythoraci
Clade: Eubrachythoraci
Clade: Pachyosteomorphi
Clade: Aspinothoracidi
Genus: Gorgonichthys
Claypole, 1892
Species
  • Gorgonichthys clarkiClaypole, 1892 (type)
The infragnathals (lower jaws) of Gorgonicthys with a 1-liter water bottle for scale (bottle is approximately 23 cm tall). These specimens were collected from the Cleveland Shale and are in the collections of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History's Department of Vertebrate Paleontology. Gorgonichthys infragnathals.jpg
The infragnathals (lower jaws) of Gorgonicthys with a 1-liter water bottle for scale (bottle is approximately 23 cm tall). These specimens were collected from the Cleveland Shale and are in the collections of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History's Department of Vertebrate Paleontology.
Ventral plates of Gorgonichthys clarki Gorgonichthys.jpg
Ventral plates of Gorgonichthys clarki

Gorgonichthys is extinct monospecific genus of large arthrodire placoderm. Fossils are found in the Upper Famennian Cleveland Shales of Late Devonian in Ohio. The type species is Gorgonichthys clarki.

Contents

Description

Gorgonichthys had sharp, pointed edges on the dental plates of the upper and lower jaws. [1] With a headshield length of up to 70 cm (28 in), [2] it is estimated to have been comparable to the size of Dunkleosteus . [3]

Phylogeny

Gorgonichthys is a member of the clade Aspinothoracidi, which belongs to the clade Pachyosteomorphi, one of the two major clades within Eubrachythoraci. It is closely related to the family Selenosteidae, and could possibly be included in that family. The cladogram below shows the phylogeny of Gorgonichthys: [4]

Eubrachythoraci  

Coccosteomorphi

  Pachyosteomorphi  

Rhachiosteus pterygiatus

Dunkleosteoidea  

Eastmanosteus calliaspis

Eastmanosteus pustulosus

Kiangyousteus yohii

Golshanichthys asiatica

Westralichthys uwagedensis

Dunkleosteus raveri

Dunkleosteus terrelli

Dunkleosteus amblyodoratus

  Heterostiidae  

Heterosteus ingens

Yinosteus major

Aspinothoracidi

Tapinosteus heintzi

Bullerichthys fascidens

Kendrickichthys cavernosus

Bruntonichthys multidens

Dinichthys herzeri

Hadrosteus rapax

Gorgonichthys clarki

  Selenosteidae  

Heintzichthys gouldii

Pachyosteus bulla

Gymnotrachelus hydei

Stenosteus angustopectus

Brachyosteus dietrichi

Melanosteus occitanus

Rhinosteus parvulus

According to a 2022 Jobbins et al. study, Gorgonichthys was found to be more related to Heintzichthys than Gymnotrachelus , potentially making Gorgonichthys a member of Selenosteidae. [5]

Gymnotrachelus

Gorgonichthys

Heintzichthys

Related Research Articles

<i>Titanichthys</i>

Titanichthys is an extinct genus of giant, aberrant marine placoderm from shallow seas of the Late Devonian of Morocco, Eastern North America, and possibly Europe. Many of the species approached Dunkleosteus in size and build. Unlike its relative, however, the various species of Titanichthys had small, ineffective-looking mouth-plates that lacked a sharp cutting edge. It is assumed that Titanichthys was a filter feeder that used its capacious mouth to swallow or inhale schools of small, anchovy-like fish, or possibly krill-like zooplankton, and that the mouth-plates retained the prey while allowing the water to escape as it closed its mouth. A study has since confirmed this assumption as its jaws are functionally closer to that of filter feeders like baleen whales and basking sharks, and it appears to have developed from benthic durophagists that became pelagic suspension feeders. This would make it the first (known) large-sized vertebrate filter feeder. Titanichthys was estimated to have reached a length of 7–7.5 m (23–25 ft), but Engelman (2023) suggested that Titanichthys was comparable in size to Dunkleosteus, likely measuring about or just over 4.1 metres (13 ft) in length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brachythoraci</span> Extinct suborder of fishes

Brachythoraci is an extinct suborder of arthrodire placoderms, armored fish most diverse during the Devonian.

<i>Rolfosteus</i>

Rolfosteus is an extinct monospecific genus of arthrodire placoderm from the Early Frasnian stage of the Late Devonian period, found at the Gogo Formation of Western Australia.

Heintzichthys is an extinct monospecific genus of arthrodire placoderm that lived what is now Europe and North America during the Famennian stage of the Late Devonian period. The type specimen was discovered in the Cleveland Shale near Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States.

<i>Mcnamaraspis</i>

Mcnamaraspis is an extinct monospecific genus of arthrodire placoderm that inhabited the ancient reef system of north Western Australia during the Frasnian epoch of the Late Devonian period. The type specimen was found and described by John A. Long from the Gogo Formation near Fitzroy Crossing. This fossil fish showed new anatomical features in arthrodires, like the well-preserved annular (ring-shaped) cartilages of the snout, previously inferred to be present by Erik Stensiö of Sweden. It is occasionally referred to as "The Gogo Fish" after the locale the holotype was excavated from.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aspinothoracidi</span> Extinct clade of fishes

Aspinothoracidi is a clade of placoderms, extinct armored fish most diverse during the Devonian. The gigantic apex predator Dinichthys, is the best-known member of this group. Many other genera, such as the infamous Dunkleosteus, were previously thought to be close relatives of Dinichthys and were grouped together in the family Dinichthyidae, though more recent studies have restricted that family to only its type species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selenosteidae</span>

Selenosteidae is an extinct family of small to large-sized arthrodire placoderms from the Late Devonian. With the exception of the Chinese Phymosteus, selenosteids lived in shallow seas in what is now Eastern North America, Eastern Europe, and Northeastern Africa.

<i>Fallacosteus</i> Species of extinct placoderm

Fallacosteus is an extinct monospecific genus of arthrodire placoderm from the Early Frasnian stage of the Late Devonian period, found at the Gogo Formation of Kimberley, Western Australia. As with almost all other camuropiscids, F. turneri had an elongated snout that may have enhanced its hydrodynamic streamlining.

<i>Stenosteus</i> Genus of fishes (fossil)

Stenosteus is an extinct monospecific genus of medium-sized selenosteid arthrodire placoderms of the Late Devonian period known from the Upper Famennian Cleveland Shale of Ohio. Estimated skull lengths range from 6 to 9 centimeters Most fossils of Stenosteus have been scraps of armor and portions of tooth-plates suggestive of Selenosteus. In 1996, enough material of a new species, S. angustopectus, was recovered to allow a reconstruction of armor that resembles that of Selenosteus.

<i>Gymnotrachelus</i> Genus of fishes (fossil)

Gymnotrachelus is an extinct monospecific genus of large selenosteid arthrodire placoderm of the Late Devonian known from the Late Famennian Cleveland Shale of Ohio. The type species Gymnotrachelus hydei was originally reconstructed as physically resembling Selenosteus, with slightly smaller orbits. Later specimens led to a reappraisal, and now G. hydei is thought to have a more gar-like or barracuda-like build.

<i>Rhinosteus</i> Genus of fishes (fossil)

Rhinosteus is an extinct genus of small to medium selenosteid arthrodire placoderms of the Late Devonian known from the Upper Frasnian Kellwasserkalk facies of Bad Wildungen, Germany and Morocco.

<i>Melanosteus</i> Genus of fishes (fossil)

Melanosteus is an extinct genus of small selenosteid arthrodire placoderms of the Late Devonian period known from the Upper Frasnian Montagne Noire of Southern France. Rücklin (2011) regards Melanosteus as the sister taxon of Rhinosteus. During the Frasnian stage, Melanosteus occitanus lived off the coast of an island continent, "Armorica," which consisted of portions of what would become Southern France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eubrachythoraci</span> Extinct suborder of fishes

Eubrachythoraci is an extinct clade of arthrodire placoderms within the suborder Brachythoraci, armored fish most diverse during the Devonian. Most are considered to be pelagic long-distance swimmers, leading to their widespread distribution beginning from at least the Middle Devonian period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pachyosteomorphi</span> Extinct suborder of fishes

Pachyosteomorphi is an extinct clade of arthrodire placoderms within the Eubrachythoraci, armored fish most diverse during the Devonian. Most are considered to be pelagic long-distance swimmers, leading to their widespread distribution beginning from at least the Middle Devonian period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coccosteomorphi</span> Extinct suborder of fishes

Coccosteomorphi is an extinct clade of arthrodire placoderms within the Eubrachythoraci, armored fish most diverse during the Devonian. Most are considered to be pelagic long-distance swimmers, leading to their widespread distribution beginning from at least the Middle Devonian period.

<i>Millerosteus</i> Extinct genus of placoderm fish of the Devonian period

Millerosteus is an extinct genus of coccosteid arthrodire placoderm from the Early Givetian stage of the Middle Devonian period. Fossils are found in the Orkneys and Caithness, Scotland. It was a small placoderm with an body length of 14 cm (5.5 in). Millerosteus is one of the few arthrodires known from specimens preserving the entire skeleton.

Dickosteus is an extinct genus of coccosteid arthrodire placoderm from the Late Eifelian to Early Givetian stages of the Middle Devonian period. Fossils are found in the Orkneys and Caithness, Scotland. It was a small placoderm with a total body length of 43.7–52.3 cm (17.2–20.6 in). It is one of the few placoderms for which complete bodies are known.

<i>Watsonosteus</i>

Watsonosteus is an extinct genus of coccosteid arthrodire placoderm from the Late Givetian stage of the Middle Devonian period. Fossils are found in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. It was a small placoderm with an total body length of 57 cm (22 in), with the largest individuals reaching lengths of 1 m (39 in). It is one of the few arthrodires for which complete body fossils are known.

Brachyosteus is an extinct genus of arthrodire placoderm from the Late Frasnian stage of the Late Devonian period. Fossils are found from Bad Wildungen, Germany.

<i>Amazichthys</i>

Amazichthys is an extinct genus of selenosteid arthrodire from the Middle Famennian of the Late Devonian of the Anti-Atlas Mountains of Morocco. It contains a single species, Amazichthys trinajsticae. It is one of a few example of placoderm known from whole body shape, including cartilaginous axial and fin elements.

References

  1. Charlie Underwood, Martha Richter, Zerina Johanson (2019). Evolution and Development of Fishes. Cambridge University Press. p. 13. ISBN   9781107179448 . Retrieved 1 September 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. John A. Long. "A new dinichthyid fish (Placodermi: Arthrodira) from the Upper Devonian of Western Australia, with a discussion of dinichthyid interrelationships". Rea. West. Aust. Mus. 1987, p. 537.
  3. Joseph S. Nelson, Terry C. Grande, Mark V. H. Wilson (2016). Fishes of the World. Wiley. p. 40. ISBN   9781119220817 . Retrieved 1 September 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. Zhu, You-An; Zhu, Min; Wang, Jun-Qing (1 April 2016). "Redescription of Yinostius major (Arthrodira: Heterostiidae) from the Lower Devonian of China, and the interrelationships of Brachythoraci". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society . 176 (4): 806–834. doi: 10.1111/zoj.12356 . ISSN   0024-4082.
  5. Jobbins, Melina; Rücklin, Martin; Ferrón, Humberto G.; Klug, Christian (2022). "A new selenosteid placoderm from the Late Devonian of the eastern Anti-Atlas (Morocco) with preserved body outline and its ecomorphology". Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 10. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2022.969158 . ISSN   2296-701X.