Pharyngolepis

Pharyngolepis Temporal range: Late Silurian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Infraphylum:	Agnatha
Superclass:	† Anaspidomorphi
Class:	† Anaspida
Order:	† Birkeniiformes
Family:	† Pharyngolepididae Kiær 1924 corrig.
Genus:	† Pharyngolepis Kiaer 1911
Type species
Pharyngolepis oblonga Kiær 1911
Species
P. heintziRitchie 1964 P. kiaeriSmith 1957 P. oblongaKiar 1911

Pharyngolepis is an extinct genus of primitive jawless fish that lived in the Silurian period of what is now Norway.

Life reconstruction

Pharyngolepis had well-developed anal and caudal fins, but no paired or dorsal fins that would have helped stabilise it in the water, and so was probably a poor swimmer, remaining close to the sea bottom. The pectoral fins were instead replaced by bony spines, possibly for protection against predators, and there was a row of spines along the back. It probably scooped up food from the ocean floor. ^[1]

References

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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