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Rhamphodopsis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rhamphodopsis
Temporal range: Middle Devonian
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Placodermi
Order: Ptyctodontida
Family: Ptyctodontidae
Genus: Rhamphodopsis
Watson, 1934
Type species
Rhamphodopsis thrieplandi
Watson, 1934
Other species
  • R. trispinatus Watson, 1938

Rhamphodopsis is a genus of extinct ptyctodont placoderm from the Middle Devonian Old Red Sandstone of Scotland.[1]

Species

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There are two species of Rhamphodopsis recognized.

R. thrieplandi

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This is the type species, and the smaller of the two described species, the adult total length being up to 7 centimeters. The median dorsal spine is shorter than the anterior lateral spines.

R. trispinatus

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This is a much larger, more robust species, the adult total length being up to 12 centimeters. The main way to distinguish small individuals of R. trispinatus from individuals of R. thrieplandi is that the median dorsal and anterior lateral spines of R. trispinatus are both proportionally equal lengths and are proportionally longer than those of R. thrieplandi.

References

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  1. ^ Denison, Robert (1978). Handbook of Paleoichthyology, Volume 2, Placodermi. New York: Gustav Fischer Verlage. p. 32. ISBN 9780895740274.
  • Fossils (Smithsonian Handbooks) by David Ward (Page 197)