RARE Devonian Arthrodire Millerosteus Placoderm

Description: This unusual fish is known as Millerosteus minor. The genus was named for the self-taught early 19th century geologist Hugh Miller who was instrumental in describing the Old Red Sandstone from which this strange fish was taken. It belongs to a group of fish known as the arthrodires, a group of extinct jawed fish that was the most numerous and diverse vertebrate order of the Devonian. The specific name minor was given for the small size of this genus; the largest of the arthrodires was Dunkelosteus at some 9 meters in length! This specimen consists mostly of the partially-disarticulated head and body plates, but also shows some of the vertebral column as well. It is the ONLY example of this taxon I have been able to secure in my 11 year career.