Rolfosteus canningensis

Taxobox
name = "Rolfosteus"

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fossil_range = Late Devonian
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Placodermi
ordo = Arthrodira
familia = Camuropiscidae
genus = "Rolfosteus "
species = "R. canningensis"

"Rolfosteus canningensis" is an extinct species of arthrodire placoderm from the late Devonian of the Gogo Reef formation in Australia.

The 15 cm (6 in) long creature had tough plating on the front of its body. Like other arthrodires such as "Coccosteus" and the giant "Dunkleosteus" it had sharp, bony plates in its mouth which formed a turtle-like beak for cutting prey to pieces. "Rolfosteus"'s most unusual feature was its highly elongated snout, which measured 7 cm (3 in) in length. The long snout may had been used to enhance its sense of smell, as well as increase its hydrodymanic streamlining.

External links

* [http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/users/haaramo/Metazoa/Deuterostoma/Chordata/Placodermi/Coccosteoidea.htm Mikko's Phylogeny Archive]

References

Long, John A. The Rise of Fishes: 500 Million Years of Evolution Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996. ISBN 0-8018-5438-5