Bothriolepis
Sign in to saveBothriolepis (from , 'trench' and 'scale') was a widespread, abundant and diverse genus of antiarch placoderms that lived during the Middle to Late Devonian period of the Paleozoic Era. Historically, Bothriolepis resided in an array of paleo-environments spread across every paleocontinent, including near shore marine and freshwater settings. Most species of Bothriolepis were characterized as relatively small, benthic, freshwater detritivores (organisms that obtain nutrients by consuming decomposing plant/animal material), averaging around in length. However, the largest species, B. rex, had a
Article
23 sectionsContents
- Classification
- General anatomy
- Head
- Jaw
- Trunk
- Dermal skeleton
- Fins and tail
- Soft anatomy
- Alimentary system
- Gills
- Paired ventral sacs
- Feeding
- Distribution
- Catskill Formation site
- Species
- ''Bothriolepis canadensis''
- ''Bothriolepis africana''
- ''Bothriolepis coloradensis''
- ''Bothriolepis nitida''
- ''Bothriolepis rex''
- ''Bothriolepis virginiensis''
- ''Bothriolepis yeungae''
- References
Bothriolepis (from , 'trench' and 'scale') was a widespread, abundant and diverse genus of antiarch placoderms that lived during the Middle to Late Devonian period of the Paleozoic Era. Historically, Bothriolepis resided in an array of paleo-environments spread across every paleocontinent, including near shore marine and freshwater settings. Most species of Bothriolepis were characterized as relatively small, benthic, freshwater detritivores (organisms that obtain nutrients by consuming decomposing plant/animal material), averaging around in length. However, the largest species, B. rex, had an estimated bodylength of . Although expansive with over 60 species found worldwide, comparatively Bothriolepis is not unusually more diverse than most modern bottom dwelling species around today.
== Classification == Bothriolepis is a genus placed within the placoderm order Antiarchi. The earliest antiarch placoderms first appeared in the Silurian period of the Paleozoic Era and could be found distributed on every paleocontinent by the Devonian period. The earliest members of Bothriolepis appear by the Middle Devonian.