Tremataspis
schmidti
Class Osteostraci,
Cephalaspidiformes, Family Tremataspidae
Geological
Time: Upper Silurian, Middle Ludlovian Stage
Size (25.4
mm = 1 inch): Fossil is 31 mm by 20 mm on a 100 mm by 95 mm matrix
Fossil
Site: Island of Oesel, Estonia
|  Description:
The 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.
Also
see: Paleozoic Fossil
Fish Tremataspis mammillata |
|
