Homosteus

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Homosteus
Temporal range: Eifelian-?Givetian
Homostius2DB.jpg
H. milleri
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Placodermi
Order: Arthrodira
Suborder: Brachythoraci
Family: Homostiidae
Genus: Homosteus
Type species
Homosteus formosissimus
Asmuss 1856
Species
  • H. formosissimusAsmuss 1856
  • H. arcticusHeintz 1934
  • H. cf. arcticusOrvig 1969
  • H. kochiStensiö & Säve-Söderbergh 1938
  • H. latusAsmuss 1856
  • H. manitobensis(Okulitch) 1944
  • H. milleriTraquair 1888
  • H. sulcatus(Kutorga) 1837
Synonyms
  • Dinichthys manitobensisOkulitch 1944
  • Homostius sp.Asmuss 1856
  • Homosteus ancepsAsmuss 1856
  • Homosteus cataphractusAsmuss 1856
  • Homosteus ponderosusAsmuss 1856
  • Trionyx sulcatusKutorga 1837
  • Trionyx latusKutorga 1837

Homosteus is a genus of flattened arthrodire placoderm from the Middle Devonian. Fossils are found primarily in Eifelian-epoch aged strata of Europe, Canada, Greenland, and Estonia. [1] All of the species had comparatively large, flattened heads with, as suggested by the upward opening orbits, upward-pointing eyes. These adaptations suggest that the various species were benthic predators. A study on Titanichthys , in contrast, suggests that species of Homosteus may have been filter-feeders instead. [2]

Contents

Homosteus specimens from the Old Red Sandstone of Scotland are known to be significantly radioactive, on the order of 1.2 * 104 gamma/min/g [sic]. [3] [4] [5] Notably, Homosteus specimens are the only fish fossils from the Old Red Sandstone to show significant radioactivity. This suggests that these specimens became radioactive from the animals ingesting radioactive isotopes in life (e.g., through ingesting radioactive sediment), [5] rather than radioactive isotopes being absorbed by the bones during fossilization (as in most cases of radioactive fossils). [6] Individuals of Homosteus from the Old Red Sandstone were chronically exposed to enough radiation that these animals would be expected to suffer negative effects of radiation exposure. However, no specimen of Homosteus shows any sign of bone cancer or other radiation-induced pathologies. [5]

Species

H. formosissimus

The type species of the genus. It is a thin-plated species from the Eifelian-aged Aruküla beds of Estonia. Although H. sulcatus was described earlier in 1837, H. formosissimus is the official type species as it was the first to be described as a placoderm (H. sulcatus was originally described as a soft-shelled turtle). H. formosissimus had a small, thin keel down the dorsal-center of its median dorsal plate. [1]

H. arcticus

This species is based on a 15 centimeter-long preorbital plate from the early Eifelian of the Wood Bay formations of Spitzbergen, Norway. Compared to other species, the anatomy of the plate suggests the species is very primitive for the genus. Denison, 1978, suggests that the species may be different enough to merit its own distinct genus. [1]

H. cf. arcticus

Based on a specimen found in the Emsian epoch-aged layers of the Wood Bay formations of Spitzbergen. May or may not be of this genus. [1]

H. kochi

This species is from the Givetian of Middle Devonian Greenland, of Canning Land, to be precise. H. kochi has a comparatively very narrow nuchal plate. [1]

H. latus

A giant species from the Eifelian-aged Aruküla beds of Estonia, and may have existed sympatrically with H. formosissimus. H. latus differed from H. formosissimus in having comparatively thick plates, a large, massive crest-like keel along the dorsal-center of its medial dorsal plate, and head-plates over a meter in length. Originally described as "Trionyx latusKutorga 1837" [1]

H. manitobensis

This species is found in the Eifelian-aged Elm Point Limestone of Manitoba. Based on a pair of paranuchal and marginal plates originally referred to the genus Dinichthys . H. manitobensis is the only member of the genus found in North America proper. [1]

H. milleri

H. milleri is from the Givetian of what is now the Orkney and Shetland Islands. It is a medium-sized species with a comparatively very rectangular-shaped median dorsal plate. [1] It is named for Hugh Miller. [7]

H. sulcatus

Another species from the Eifelian-aged Aruküla beds of Estonia. Although H. sulcatus was described before H. formosissimus, H. sulcatus was originally described as a soft-shelled turtle, ne "Trionyx sulcatusKutorga 1837". H. sulcatus had thick plates, and a well-developed keel on the dorsal-center of its median dorsal plate. It was larger than H. formosissimus, but still much smaller than H. latus. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Bothriolepis</i> Diverse genus of placoderm fishes of the Devonian

Bothriolepis was a widespread, abundant and diverse genus of antiarch placoderms that lived during the Middle to Late Devonian period of the Paleozoic Era. Historically, Bothriolepis resided in an array of paleo-environments spread across every paleocontinent, including near shore marine and freshwater settings. Most species of Bothriolepis were characterized as relatively small, benthic, freshwater detritivores, averaging around 30 centimetres (12 in) in length. However, the largest species, B. rex, had an estimated bodylength of 170 centimetres (67 in). Although expansive with over 60 species found worldwide, comparatively Bothriolepis is not unusually more diverse than most modern bottom dwelling species around today.

<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 7–7.6 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 (13.5 ft) in length.

<i>Eldredgeops</i> Genus of trilobites

Eldredgeops is a genus of trilobites in the order Phacopida, family Phacopidae, known from the late Middle and earliest Upper Devonian of Morocco and the USA.

<i>Lunaspis</i> Extinct genus of placoderm fish

Lunaspis is an extinct genus of armor-plated petalichthyid placoderm fish that lived in shallow marine environments of the Early Devonian period, from approximately 409.1 to 402.5 million year ago. Fossils have been found in Germany, China and Australia. There are three different identified species of within the genus Lunaspis: L. broilii, L. heroldi, and L. prumiensis.

<i>Onychodus</i> Extinct genus of fishes

Onychodus is a genus of prehistoric lobe-finned fish which lived during the Devonian Period. It is one of the best known of the group of onychodontiform fishes. Scattered fossil teeth of Onychodus were first described from Ohio in 1857 by John Strong Newberry. Other species were found in Australia, England, Norway and Germany showing that it had a widespread range.

<i>Phyllolepis</i>

Phyllolepis is the type genus of Phyllolepida, an extinct taxon of arthrodire placoderm fish from the middle to late Devonian. The species of Phyllolepis, themselves, are restricted to the Famennian-aged freshwater strata of the Late Devonian, around 360 million years ago. Fossils of this genus have been found primarily in Europe and North America. The end of the Devonian saw them disappear in a mass extinction.

<i>Holonema</i> Extinct genus of fishes

Holonema is an extinct genus of relatively large, barrel-shaped arthrodire placoderms that were found in oceans throughout the world from the Mid to Late Devonian, when the last species perished in the Frasnian-Fammian extinction event. Most species of the genus are known from fragments of their armor, but the Gogo Reef species, H. westolli, is known from whole, articulated specimens.

<i>Eastmanosteus</i> Extinct genus of placoderm fish

Eastmanosteus is a fossil genus of dunkleosteid placoderms. It was closely related to the giant Dunkleosteus, but differed from that genus in size, in possessing a distinctive tuberculated bone ornament, a differently shaped nuchal plate and a more zig-zagging course of the sutures of the skull roof.

Deinodus is a form genus that includes two species: the form found in the Onondaga Formation of western New York, Deinodus bennetti, and the form found in the Columbus and Limestone of central Ohio, Deinodus ohioensis. Both species are limited to the Eifelian age of the middle Devonian Period, which occurred 398-391 million years ago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holonematidae</span> Extinct family of fishes

Holonematidae is an extinct family of relatively large arthrodire placoderms from the Early to Late Devonian. Almost all fossil specimens are of armor fragments, though, all have distinctive ornamentation, often of unique arrangements and patterns of tubercles, that are diagnostic of the family. The trunkshield is very elongated, giving the armor an overall "barrel" like appearance.

<i>Protitanichthys</i> Extinct genus of fishes

Protitanichthys is an extinct genus of comparatively large coccosteid arthrodire placoderms from the Middle Devonian of the eastern United States. Fossils are found primarily in the Eifelian-epoch aged Delaware Limestone of Ohio, and the Lower Givetian-aged Rockport Quarry Limestone of Michigan

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

Homostiidae is a family of flattened arthrodire placoderms from the Early to Middle Devonian. Fossils appear in various strata in Europe, Russia, Morocco, Australia, Canada and Greenland.

Microbrachiidae is an extinct family of tiny, advanced antiarch placoderms closely related to the bothriolepidids.

<i>Angarichthys</i>

Angarichthys hyperboreus is an extinct homostiid arthrodire placoderm from the Middle Devonian of Siberia. It is known from an infragnathal plate, an intero-lateral plate, and a marginal plate found from the Middle Devonian strata of the Tynep Series formation, in the Bakhta River basin, Tunguska Plateau. A. hyperboreus differs from Homosteus in that the former's marginal plate has a ridge where the central plate would have overlapped it, and in the infragnathal, which is curved sigmoidally, and bears at least seven tooth-like prongs nearer to the functional anterior end.

<i>Brachydeirus</i>

Brachydeirus is a genus of small to moderately large-sized arthrodire placoderms from the Late Devonian of Europe, restricted to the Kellwasserkalk Fauna of Bad Wildungen and Adorf.

Microbrachius is an extinct genus of tiny, advanced antiarch placoderms closely related to the bothriolepids. Specimens range in age from the Lower Devonian Late Emsian Stage to the Middle Devonian Upper Givetian Stage. They are characterized by having large heads with short thoracic armor of an average length of 2–4 cm. There are patterns of small, but noticeable tubercles on the armor, with the arrangement varying from species to species. Specimens of Microbrachius have been found in Scotland, Belarus, Estonia, and China.

<i>Asterolepis</i> (fish) Extinct genus of fishes

Asterolepis is an extinct genus of antiarch placoderms from the Devonian of North and South America and Europe. They were heavily armored flat-headed benthic detritivores with distinctive jointed limb-like pectoral fins and hollow spine. The armor plate gives the Asterolepis a box-like shape. Its pectoral fins are also armored but the caudal and dorsal fin are not. The first fossils were named by M. Eichwald in 1840 after noticing star-like markings on the fossils.

<i>Thursophyton</i> Extinct genus of vascular plants

Thursophyton is a form genus of extinct vascular plants known from anatomically preserved specimens originally described from the Givetian of Scotland, and since reported from other parts of northern Europe. The taxonomic position of Thursophyton has been uncertain; most authors have considered it too imperfectly known to place, or have assigned it to the Lycopodiophyta. Unpublished research suggests similarities with spiny genera of the Zosterophyllopsida.

<i>Heterosteus</i>

Heterosteus is an extinct genus of heterosteid placoderm of the Middle Devonian known from remains discovered in Europe and Greenland. According to Denison, 1978, Heterosteus might have been planktivorous, along with Homosteus, and Titanichthys.

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 cm (17.2 in). It is one of the few placoderms for which complete bodies are known.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Denison, Robert (1978). Placodermi Volume 2 of Handbook of Paleoichthyology'. Stuttgart New York: Gustav Fischer Verlag. p. 71. ISBN   978-0-89574-027-4.
  2. Coatham, Samuel J.; Vinther, Jakob; Rayfield, Emily J.; Klug, Christian (2020). "Was the Devonian placoderm Titanichthys a suspension feeder?". Royal Society Open Science. 7 (5): 200272. doi:10.1098/rsos.200272. PMC   7277245 . PMID   32537223.
  3. Bowie, S. H. U.; Atkin, D. (March 1956). "An Unusually Radioactive Fossil Fish from Thurso, Scotland". Nature. 177 (4506): 487–488. doi:10.1038/177487b0.
  4. Diggle, W. R.; Saxon, J. (October 1965). "An Unusually Radioactive Fossil Fish from Thurso, Scotland". Nature. 208 (5008): 400–400. doi: 10.1038/208400a0 .
  5. 1 2 3 Saxon, J. (1979). "The radioactive fossil fishes of the north of Scotland". Caithness Field Club Bulletin. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  6. Kielan-Jaworowska, Zofia (2013). In pursuit of early mammals. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. ISBN   978-0253008176.
  7. "Collections: Fossil - 'Homosteus milleri traq.'". Stromness Museum . Retrieved 17 February 2024.