Selenosteidae

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Selenosteidae
Temporal range: Late Devonian, 382.7–358.9  Ma
Amazichthys trinajsticae.jpg
Driscollichthys, Amazichthys, Draconichthys
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Placodermi
Order: Arthrodira
Suborder: Brachythoraci
Clade: Eubrachythoraci
Clade: Pachyosteomorphi
Clade: Aspinothoracidi
Family: Selenosteidae
Dean, 1901
Type species
Selenosteus brevis
(Claypole), 1869
Genera
Synonyms
  • Pachyosteidae Gross, 1932
  • Braunosteidae Stensiö, 1959
  • Rhinosteidae Stensiö, 1963
Life restoration of Amazichthys Amazichthys.jpg
Life restoration of Amazichthys

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 (the Cleveland Shale), Eastern Europe (Holy Cross Mountains, Poland, and the Kellwasserkalk fauna of Bad Wildungen), and Northeastern Africa (the Anti-Atlas Mountains, Morocco).

Contents

Selenosteids have, in cross section, a rounded body, a blunt snout, and tremendous orbits. The lower jaws were slender, the inferognathals usually either being finely serrated, or adapted for crushing, [1] though, in Draconichthys , the inferognathals had long prongs for seizing prey. [2] The rostrum is very small.

Taxonomy

Selenosteidae is a member of the clade Aspinothoracidi, which belongs to the clade Pachyosteomorphi, one of the two major clades within Eubrachythoraci. Gorgonichthys is closely related to the family Selenosteidae, and could possibly be included in the family. The cladogram below shows the placement of Selenosteidae within Eubrachythoraci: [3]

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

Below is a more detailed cladogram of Selenosteidae, from Rücklin (2011): [2]

Aspinothoracidi

Parabelosteus

Brachydeirus

Selenosteidae

Pachyosteus

Selenosteus

Stenosteus

Gymnotrachelus

Microsteus

Walterosteus

Draconichthys

Enseosteus

Melanosteus

Rhinosteus

Denison (1978) [1] separated Selenosteidae into two informal groups, the "American" genera (i.e., those taxa from the Upper Famennian Cleveland Shales, such as Selenosteus and Gymnotrachelus), and the "European" genera (i.e., those taxa from the Upper Frasnian Kellwasserkalk facies of Germany, and later, Morocco, like Rhinosteus and Microsteus). Denison notes that the differences between the two groups, such as how the American genera tend to have slightly smaller orbits, and slightly longer cheeks, may suggest the similarities between them are due to parallel evolution. [1]

Rücklin (2011), on the other hand, places Pachyosteus as the most basal selenosteid, then groups the American genera (with Selenosteus grouped as the sister taxon of Gymnotrachelus and Stenosteus) as being the sister group of the remaining European/Kellwasserkalk genera, plus Draconichthys. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

Dinichthys is an extinct monospecific genus of large marine arthrodire placoderm from the Late Devonian measuring around 3 metres (9.8 ft) long. Fossils were recovered from the Ohio Shale Formation along the Olentangy River in Delaware County, Ohio.

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

Dunkleosteidae is an extinct family of arthrodire placoderms that lived during the Devonian period. The gigantic apex predator Dunkleosteus terrelli is the best known member of this group.

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

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.

<i>Draconichthys</i>

Draconichthys elegans a selenosteid arthrodire placoderm from the Late Frasnian Kellwasserkalk facies of the Anti-Atlas Mountains of what is now Morocco. During the Late Devonian, the region would have been a shallow, algae-dimmed sea.

<i>Hadrosteus</i>

Hadrosteus is an extinct monospecific genus of large arthrodire placoderm from the Late Frasnian Kellwasserkalk facies of Bad Wildungen, Germany. It had large, double-pronged inferognathals, and serrated edges along its mandible, strongly suggesting that it was a fish-eating predator. The head had a triangular snout, and the trunkshield was short, but high, with a median dorsal plate that was broader than wide. The average skull length is about 16 centimeters.

<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>Microsteus</i>

Microsteus is an extinct genus of small selenosteid arthrodire placoderms known from the Upper Frasnian Kellwasserkalk facies of Late Devonian Germany.

<i>Enseosteus</i>

Enseosteus is an extinct genus of small selenosteid arthrodire placoderms known from the Upper Frasnian Kellwasserkalk facies of Late Devonian Germany and Morocco.

<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>Braunosteus</i>

Braunosteus schmidti is a medium-sized selenosteid arthrodire placoderm known from the Upper Frasnian Kellwasserkalk facies of Late Devonian Bad Wildungen, Germany. B. schmidti has a broad skull about 9 centimeters long, and a short, but pointed rostrum. Its appearance is very similar to that of the basal selenosteid Pachyosteus.

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

Pachyosteus is an extinct monospecific genus of medium-sized selenosteid arthrodire placoderm known from the Upper Frasnian Kellwasserkalk facies of Late Devonian Bad Wildungen, Germany and from the Famennian portions of the Holy Cross Mountains of Poland. The type species Pachyosteus bulla has a broad skull about 7 to 10 centimetres long, a comparatively long median dorsal plate, and a short rostral plate that meets the pineal plate.

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

Coccosteidae is a family of arthrodire placoderms from the Early to Late Devonian. Fossils appear in various strata in Europe, North America and China.

<i>Walterosteus</i>

Walterosteus is an extinct genus of small selenosteid arthrodire placoderms known from the Upper Frasnian Kellwasserkalk facies of Late Devonian Germany and Morocco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dunkleosteoidea</span> Extinct superfamily of fishes

Dunkleosteoidea is an extinct superfamily of arthrodire placoderms that lived during the Devonian period. The gigantic apex predator Dunkleosteus terrelli is the best known member of this group.

<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.

Compagopiscis is an extinct genus of placoderm known from the Gogo Formation. It lived in the Upper Devonian of Western Australia. The genus is monotypic, with its only species being Compagopiscis croucheri.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Denison, Robert (1978). Handbook of Paleoichthyology, Volume 2, Placodermi. New York: Gustav Fischer Verlage. p. 94. ISBN   9780895740274.
  2. 1 2 3 RÜCKLIN, MARTIN (January 14, 2011). "First selenosteid placoderms from the eastern Anti-Atlas of Morocco; osteology, phylogeny and palaeogeographical implications". Palaeontology. 56 (1): 25–62. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2010.01026.x.
  3. 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.