Bothriolepis

Bothriolepis is an extinct genus of antiarch placoderm fish that lived during the Devonian Period. Its armored head and trunk were joined to jointed, armor-covered pectoral appendages.

Placodermi: Placoderms were a diverse class of extinct armored fishes that lived from the Silurian through the Devonian. Bothriolepis belongs to this group of armored jawed fishes.
Dermal bone: Dermal bone forms directly within connective tissue, without first being laid down as cartilage. The plates of Bothriolepis armor were formed from dermal bone.
Bothriolepis canadensis: Bothriolepis canadensis is a species known from exceptionally informative Late Devonian fossils in Quebec. Its fossils underpin detailed reconstructions of the genus’s anatomy.
Devonian diversification of fishes: The Devonian diversification of fishes was a major expansion in the diversity and ecological roles of fish lineages. Bothriolepis was among the widespread armored fishes of this evolutionary radiation.
Fossil record: The fossil record is the preserved evidence of past life found in geological materials. Uneven preservation makes Bothriolepis diversity and distribution difficult to reconstruct completely.
Antiarchi: Antiarchs were an order of placoderms characterized by bony armor covering the head and front of the trunk. Bothriolepis is classified within this distinctive placoderm order.
Antiarch pectoral appendage: An antiarch pectoral appendage is a jointed, bony limb-like structure attached to the armored trunk. Bothriolepis used these distinctive appendages for support and movement.
Bothriolepis ornata: Bothriolepis ornata is a species of the genus described from Devonian fossils. It illustrates the diversity of named Bothriolepis species.
Late Devonian: The Late Devonian is the final epoch of the Devonian Period, about 382 to 359 million years ago. Many well-preserved Bothriolepis species come from Late Devonian deposits.
Paleobiogeography: Paleobiogeography studies the geographic distribution of ancient organisms and its changes through time. Its broad fossil distribution raises questions about dispersal and ancient water connections.

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PlacodermBroader topic: Its fossils document a common, widespread placoderm body plan.