Psammosteidae

Taxobox
name = "Psammosteidae"
status = fossil

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image_caption = "Drepanaspis gemuendina" and "Tiaraspis subtilis"
fossil_range = Early to Late Devonian
regnum = Animalia
classis = Agnatha
ordo = Heterostraci
familia = Psammosteidae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision =
* "Drepanaspis"
* "Pycnosteus"
* "Psammolepis"
* "Schizosteus"
* "Tartuosteus"The Psammosteidae are a family of flattened, benthic jawless vertebrates that lived in marine and estuary environments in Europe, Russia & North America. They arose during the Early Devonian, with the first (and best) known genus, "Drepanaspis" from the Hunsrück lagerstätte. The Psammosteids were the only heterostracans that survived the Upper Frasnian extinction event during the Late Devonian, dying out in the extinction event at the very end of the Devonian.

Many of the Late Devonian genera, such as "Psammolepis", were among the largest heterostracans ever, growing to be at least 1.5 metres in width.

References

* [http://www.palaeos.com/Vertebrates/Units/040Pteraspidomorphi/040.800.html#Psammosteida "Palaeos Vertebrates"]