Bothriolepis
Appearance
Bothriolepis Temporal range: Late Devonian
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Model of B. canadensis | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | †Placodermi |
Order: | †Antiarchi |
Family: | †Bothriolepididae |
Genus: | †Bothriolepis Eichwald, 1840 |
Species | |
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Bothriolepis is a genus of antiarch placoderms. It was widespread and diverse in the middle to late Devonian.
Bothriolepis lived in environments across every continent including near-shore marine and freshwater settings. Most species of Bothriolepis were small, benthic, freshwater detritivores. They got nutrients by eating decomposing plant/animal material. They were about 30 centimetres (12 in) in length. However, the largest species, B. maxima, had a carapace about 100 centimetres (39 in) in length.
Over 70 species are found across the world, but this is also typical of modern bottom dwelling species around today.[1]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Thomson, KS; Thomas, B (2001). "On the status of species Bothriolepis (Placodermi, Antiarchi) in North America". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 21 (4): 679–686. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2001)021[0679:otsoso]2.0.co;2. S2CID 86104844.