Ostracoderm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Osteostraci
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Osteostraci
Lankester, 1868
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The Osteostraci (say: Oss-tee-oh-STRAH-sy) were a group of ancient, extinct fish. They are also known as ostracoderms (say: OSS-trah-koh-durms). These fish had a strong, bony armor covering their bodies. They were also jawless, meaning they didn't have a movable jaw like most fish today.
These amazing creatures lived a very long time ago, from the Middle Silurian period to the Upper Devonian period. That's roughly between 430 and 360 million years ago! You could find them in areas that are now North America, Europe, and Russia. The Osteostraci were special because they were among the first fish to use their gills just for breathing, like fish do now.
Discovering Ancient Fish
Ostracoderms were the first fossil fish ever found. People discovered them in the 1830s. These fossils were found in rocks called the Old Red Sandstone in Scotland. One type of ostracoderm, called Cephalaspis, is a very common fossil in these rocks. Finding these fossils helped scientists learn a lot about early fish life on Earth.
Images for kids
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Various ostracoderms of the class Osteostraci ('bony-shields')
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Cardipeltis bryanti, a lower Devonian ostracoderm from the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming. Ventral (underside) exposed.
