Rolfosteus canningensis
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| Rolfosteus Temporal range: Late Devonian |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Placodermi |
| Order: | Arthrodira |
| Family: | Camuropiscidae |
| Genus: | Rolfosteus |
| Species: | R. canningensis |
Rolfosteus canningensis is an extinct species of arthrodire placoderm from the late Devonian of the Gogo Formation of Western 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.
[edit] External links
[edit] 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
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