Hadrosteus Explained

Hadrosteus is an extinct monospecific genus of large arthrodire placoderm from the Late Frasnian (Late Devonian) Kellwasserkalk facies of Bad Wildungen, Germany.[1] It had large, double-pronged inferognathals (lower jawbones), and serrated edges along its mandible, strongly suggesting that it was a fish-eating predator. The head had a triangular snout, and the trunkshield was short, but high, with a median dorsal plate that was broader than wide. The average skull length is about 16 centimeters.[1]

Etymology

The type species Hadrosteus rapax means "Rapacious Strong-Bone".[1]

Phylogeny

Hadrosteus is a member of the clade Aspinothoracidi, which belongs to the clade Pachyosteomorphi, one of the two major clades within Eubrachythoraci. The cladogram below shows the phylogeny of Hadrosteus:[2]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Denison, Robert. Placodermi Volume 2 of Handbook of Paleoichthyology. 1978. Gustav Fischer Verlag. Stuttgart New York. 978-0-89574-027-4. 89–90.
  2. Zhu . You-An . Zhu . Min . Wang . Jun-Qing . 1 April 2016 . Redescription of Yinostius major (Arthrodira: Heterostiidae) from the Lower Devonian of China, and the interrelationships of Brachythoraci . . 176 . 4 . 806–834 . 10.1111/zoj.12356. 0024-4082 . free .