Primitive Jawless Fish Tremataspis

with Both Plates Preserved

Tremataspis schmidti

Class Osteostraci, Cephalaspidiformes, Family Tremataspidae

Geological Time: Upper Silurian, Middle Ludlovian Stage

Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Fossil is 33 mm by 22 mm with 15 mm by 11 mm on reverse on a 170 mm by 120 mm matrix

Fossil Site: Island of Oesel, Estonia

Fossil Code: UKF185

Price: Sold


Jawless Fish Tremataspis Paleozoic FishesThe Osteostracii are a primitive group of jawless fish. This one is known as Tremataspis and comes from the Silurian of Estonia. It had a rounded shield that covered most of the body and was presumed to have aided the fish in plowing through the substrate in search of food. Notice the centrally-located eye holes, single nostril , sensory fields and ornamentation. The shield was one solid piece, and as such most likely did not grow as the animal aged. Presumably the larvae had no such protection, growing a shield only once they had reached the mature stage. This one shows both the dorsal and ventral sides. While the dorsal side is [essentially] complete, the ventral side preserves some 35% of the original shell. There is one repaired crack.

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