Pharyngolepis

Extinct genus of jawless fishes

Pharyngolepis Temporal range: Late Silurian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N


Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	†Anaspida
Order:	†Birkeniiformes
Family:	†Pharyngolepididae Kiær 1924 corrig.
Genus:	†Pharyngolepis Kiaer 1911
Type species
Pharyngolepis oblonga Kiær 1911
Species
P. heintzi Ritchie 1964 P. kiaeri Smith 1957 P. oblonga Kiar 1911

Pharyngolepis is an extinct genus of primitive jawless fish that lived in the Silurian period of what is now Norway.

Pharyngolepis had well-developed anal and caudal fins, but no paired or dorsal fins that would have helped stabilise it in the water, and so was probably a poor swimmer, remaining close to the sea bottom. The pectoral fins were instead replaced by bony spines, possibly for protection against predators, and there was a row of spines along the back. It probably scooped up food from the ocean floor.^[1]

References

^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 25. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.