Osteostraci

Osteostraci
Temporal range: Wenlock[1]–Late Devonian, 433–359 Ma
Cephalaspis species
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: †Osteostraci
Lankester, 1868
Orders

Zenaspida
Benneviaspidida
Thyestiida

Synonyms
  • Osteostracida
  • Cephalaspidiformes
The osteostracans reconstructed here belong to the major clade Cornuata, whose generalised morphology is exemplified by the zenaspidid Zenaspis (bottom left). Some highly derived head-shield morphologies are exemplified by the benneviaspidids Hoelaspis (top right) and Tauraspis (top left), or the thyestiid Tremataspis (bottom right). The latter has lost the paired fins, possibly as a consequence of an adaptation to burrowing habits.[2]

The class Osteostraci (meaning "bony shells") is an extinct taxon of bony-armored jawless fish, termed "ostracoderms", that lived in what is now North America, Europe and Russia from the Middle Silurian to Late Devonian.

Anatomically speaking, the osteostracans, especially the Devonian species, were among the most advanced of all known agnathans. This is due to the development of paired fins, and their complicated cranial anatomy. The osteostracans were more similar to lampreys than to jawed vertebrates in possessing two pairs of semicircular canals in the inner ear, as opposed to the three pairs found in the inner ears of jawed vertebrates. They are thought to be the sister-group to pituriaspids, and together, these two taxa of jawless vertebrates are the sister-group of gnathostomes. Several synapomorphies support this hypothesis, such as the presence of: sclerotic ossicles, paired pectoral fins, a dermal skeleton with three layers (a basal layer of isopedin, a middle layer of spongy bone, and a superficial layer of dentin), and perichondral bone.[3]

Most osteostracans had a massive cephalothorac shield, but all Middle and Late Devonian species appear to have had a reduced, thinner, and often micromeric dermal skeleton. This reduction may have occurred at least three times independently because the pattern of reduction is different in each taxon.[4] The largest known osteostracan is Parameteoraspis, its crescent-shaped headshield was 35 to 40 cm wide.[5]

They were probably relatively good swimmers, possessing dorsal fins, paired pectoral fins, and a strong tail. The shield of bone covering the head formed a single piece, and so presumably did not grow during adult life. However, the way in which the bone was laid down makes it possible to examine the imprints of nerves and other soft tissues. This reveals the presence of complex sensory organs and the sides and upper surface of the head, which may have been used to sense vibrations.[6]

  1. ^ Sansom, Robert S.; Randle, Emma; Donoghue, Philip C. J. (February 7, 2015). "Discriminating signal from noise in the fossil record of early vertebrates reveals cryptic evolutionary history". Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 282 (1800): 20142245. doi:10.1098/rspb.2014.2245. PMC 4298210. PMID 25520359.
  2. ^ Janvier, Philippe (1997) Osteostraci The Tree of Life Web Project.
  3. ^ Sansom, R. S. (2009). "Phylogeny, classification and character polarity of the Osteostraci (Vertebrata)". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 7: 95–115. doi:10.1017/S1477201908002551.
  4. ^ Otto, M.; Laurin, M. (2001). "Microanatomy of the dermal skeleton of Balticaspis latvica (Osteostraci, Middle Devonian)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 21 (1): 186–189. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2001)021[0186:motdso]2.0.co;2.
  5. ^ "Cephalaspidomorphi: Cornuata". palaeos.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023.
  6. ^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-84028-152-1.