| Lanarkia Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Infraphylum: | Agnatha |
| Class: | † Thelodonti |
| Order: | † Furcacaudiformes |
| Family: | † Lanarkiidae |
| Genus: | † Lanarkia Traquair, 1898 |
| Type species | |
| Lanarkia horrida Traquair, 1898 | |
| Other species | |
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Lanarkia is a genus of extinct thelodont agnathan which existed in what is now Scotland and Canada during the upper Silurian period. [1] [2]
Lanarkia were very small fish around 30-45 cm in length that would have been possible prey to eurypterids. [3]
The scales of Lanarkia spinulosa likely served an anti-parasite role, similar to modern sharks which form large groups and cruise at slow to medium speeds. Lanarkia lanceolata preserves scales with a generalized form, similar to modern sharks which swim slowly in open deep-water environments. Lanarkia horrida has an unusual combination of small and larger pointed scales. They could have served a generalist or anti-predator role, though juvenile small-spotted catsharks (Scyliorhinus canicula) use similar scales on their tail to rasp at food. [4] [5]
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