Archipelepis
Extinct genus of jawless fishes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Archipelepis is a genus of extinct thelodont agnathans, and are the most primitive recognized thelodonts of which whole body fossils are known.[2] Fossils of bodies and scales are currently known from Late Telychian to Wenlock-aged marine strata of northern Canada.[3]
| Archipelepis Temporal range: Late Telychian-Sheinwoodian | |
|---|---|
| |
| Archipelepis turbinata | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Infraphylum: | Agnatha |
| Class: | †Thelodonti |
| Order: | †Archipelepidiformes |
| Family: | †Archipelepididae Märss in Soehn et al., 2001 |
| Genus: | †Archipelepis Märss in Soehn et al., 2001 |
| Type species | |
| †Archipelepis turbinata Märss in Soehn et al., 2001 | |
| Species | |
| |
Description
Both species have similar body morphology, in that both resembled tadpoles with forked tails. Scale morphology differs in that A. bifurcata has forked scales with two prong-like spires,[1] and that A. turbinata has bulbous, pointed scales that resemble upside-down spinning tops.[3]
The scales of Archipelepis are robust and abrasion-resistant, similar to modern sharks which live among rough substrates such as rocky caves or reefs.[4][5]
