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Antiarchi

Placodermi

Taxonomy
Antiarcha was named by Cope (1885). It is not extant.

It was reranked as the class Antiarcha by Gadow (1898); it was reranked as the unranked clade Antiarchi by van der Laan (2019).

It was assigned to Hypostomata by Gadow (1898); to Placodermi by Hay (1902); to Placodermi by Denison (1975); and to Placodermi by Denison (1978), Sepkoski (2002), Young (2010), van der Laan (2019).

Synonyms
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1885Antiarcha Cope
1885Antiarchi Cope
1898Antiarcha Gadow p. 4
1902Antiarcha Hay p. 342
1975Antiarcha Denison p. 23
1978Antiarcha Denison
1986Antiarchiformes Grande and Eastman
1999Antiarchi Dineley and Metcalf p. 11
2001Antiarchi Thomson and Thomas p. 683
2002Antiarcha Sepkoski
2007Antiarchi Moloshnikov
2010Antiarcha Young p. 527
2011Antiarchiformes Long p. 242
2019Antiarchi van der Laan p. 27

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
RankNameAuthor
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classPlacodermiM'Coy 1848
—Antiarchi(Cope 1885)
—Antiarchi(Cope 1885)

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Unr. †Antiarchi Cope 1885
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Fm. †Asterolepididae Traquair 1888
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G. †Asterolepis Eichwald 1840
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†Asterolepis alticristata Downs et al. 2019
†Asterolepis chadwicki Wells 1964
†Asterolepis concatenata Eichwald 1844
†Asterolepis cristata Obruchev 1933
†Asterolepis dellei Gross 1940
†Asterolepis essica Lyarskaya 1981
†Asterolepis estonica Gross 1940
†Asterolepis maxima Agassiz 1844
†Asterolepis orcadensis Watson 1932
†Asterolepis ornata Eichwald 1840
†Asterolepis radiata Rohon 1900
†Asterolepis scabra Woodward 1891
†Asterolepis sinensis P’an 1957
†Asterolepis syasiensis Lyarskaya 1981
†Asterolepis thule Watson 1932
†Asterolepis verrucosa M'Coy 1848
G. †Stegolepis Malinovskaya 1973
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†Stegolepis asiatica Obrucheva 1955
†Stegolepis jugata Malinovskaya 1973
†Stegolepis tuberculata Malinovskaya 1973
Invalid names: Pterichthyidae [synonym]
Fm. †Lepadolepididae Berg 1955
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G. †Ceratolepichthys Whitley 1940
G. †Lepadolepis White and Moy-Thomas 1940
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†Lepadolepis stensioei Gross 1933
Invalid names: Ceratolepis Gross 1933 [replaced]
Fm. †Pambulaspidae Young 1983
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G. †Pambulaspis Young 1983
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Fm. †Remigolepididae Stensio 1931
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G. †Remigolepis Stensio 1931
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†Remigolepis acuta Stensio 1931
†Remigolepis armata Lukševičs 2001
†Remigolepis cristata Stensio 1931
†Remigolepis incisa Woodward 1901
†Remigolepis karakoliensis Panteleyev 1992
†Remigolepis kochi Stensio 1931
†Remigolepis kullingi Stensio 1931
†Remigolepis major Pan et al. 1987
†Remigolepis microcephala Pan et al. 1987
†Remigolepis redcliffensis Johanson 1997
†Remigolepis suusamyrensis Panteleyev 1992
†Remigolepis tuberculata Stensio 1931
†Remigolepis walkeri JOHANSON 1997
†Remigolepis xiangshanensis Pan et al. 1987
†Remigolepis xixiaensis Pan et al. 1987
†Remigolepis zhongningensis Pan et al. 1980
†Remigolepis zhongweiensis Pan et al. 1987
Invalid names: Asperaspididae Moloshnikov 2012 [empty]
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Fm. †Bothriolepididae Cope 1886
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G. †Bothriolepis Eichwald 1840
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†Bothriolepis africana Long et al. 1997
†Bothriolepis alvesiensis Stensio 1948
†Bothriolepis amankonyrica Malinovskaya 1988
†Bothriolepis antarctica Woodward 1921
†Bothriolepis askinae Young 1988
†Bothriolepis babichevi Malinovskaya 1992
†Bothriolepis barretti Young 1988
†Bothriolepis canadensis Whiteaves 1880
†Bothriolepis cellulosa Pander 1846
†Bothriolepis ciecere Lyarskaia 1974
†Bothriolepis cristata Traquair 1895
†Bothriolepis curonica Gross 1942
†Bothriolepis dairbhrensis Dupret et al. 2023
†Bothriolepis dorakarasugensis Moloshnikov 2009
†Bothriolepis evaldi Lyarskaya 1986
†Bothriolepis extensa Sergienko 1961
†Bothriolepis favosa Agassiz 1844
†Bothriolepis gigantea Miles 1968
†Bothriolepis grenfellensis Johanson 1997
†Bothriolepis hayi Miles 1968
†Bothriolepis heckeri Lukševičs 2001
†Bothriolepis hicklingi Miles 1968
†Bothriolepis hydrophila Agassiz 1844
†Bothriolepis jani Luksevics 1986
†Bothriolepis jarviki Stensio 1948
†Bothriolepis karawaka Young 1988
†Bothriolepis kassini Malinovskaya 1988
†Bothriolepis kohni Young 1988
†Bothriolepis leptocheira Traquair 1893
†Bothriolepis lohesti Leriche 1931
†Bothriolepis longi Johanson and Young 1999
†Bothriolepis macrocephala Egerton 1862
†Bothriolepis maeandrina Hoffman 1911
†Bothriolepis major Agassiz 1844
†Bothriolepis markovskii Moloshnikov 2010
†Bothriolepis mawsoni Young 1988
†Bothriolepis maxima Gross 1933
†Bothriolepis nielseni Stensio 1948
†Bothriolepis nikitinae Malinovskaya 1988
†Bothriolepis nitida Leidy 1856
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Invalid names: Bothriolepis coloradensis Eastman 1904 [synonym], Bothriolepis darbiensis Denison 1951 [synonym], Bothriolepis minor Newberry 1889 [synonym]
†Bothriolepis niushoushanensis Pan et al. 1980
†Bothriolepis obesa Traquair 1888
†Bothriolepis ornata Eichwald 1840
†Bothriolepis panderi Lahusen 1880
†Bothriolepis paradoxa Agassiz 1845
†Bothriolepis pavariensis Lyarskaia 1974
†Bothriolepis perija Young and Moody 2002
†Bothriolepis prima Gross 1942
†Bothriolepis rex Downs et al. 2016
†Bothriolepis siberica Obruchev 1941
†Bothriolepis sibirica Obruchev 1941
†Bothriolepis sosnensis Moloshnikov 2003
†Bothriolepis tastenica Malinovskaya 1988
†Bothriolepis tatongensis Long and Werdelin 1986
†Bothriolepis taylori Miles 1968
†Bothriolepis traquairi Bryant 1924
†Bothriolepis tungseni Chang 1965
†Bothriolepis turanica Obruchev 1939
†Bothriolepis virginiensis Weems et al. 1981
†Bothriolepis volongensis Luksevics and Sorokin 1999
†Bothriolepis vuwae Young 1988
†Bothriolepis warreni Long 1983
†Bothriolepis wilsoni Miles 1968
†Bothriolepis yeungae Johanson 1998
†Bothriolepis zhujiangyuanensis Xian et al. 2025
Invalid names: Stenacanthus Leidy 1856 [synonym]
G. †Briagalepis Long et al. 1990
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†Briagalepis warreni Long et al. 1990
G. †Chahuaqingolepis Liu et al. 2023
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†Chahuaqingolepis magniporus Liu et al. 2023
G. †Grossilepis Stensiö 1948
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†Grossilepis brandi Miles 1968
†Grossilepis rikiki Olive 2015
†Grossilepis spinosa Gross 1942
G. †Houershanaspis Lu et al. 2017
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†Houershanaspis zhangi Lu et al. 2017
G. †Livnolepis Moloshnikov 2008
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†Livnolepis heckeri Moloshnikov and Linkevich 2017
†Livnolepis zadonica Obruchev 1983
G. †Monarolepis Young 1988
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†Monarolepis verrucosa Young 1988
G. †Vietnamaspis Long et al. 1990
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†Vietnamaspis trii Long et al. 1990
G. †Wufengshania Pan et al. 2018
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†Wufengshania magniforaminis Pan et al. 2018
Invalid names: Bothriolepidae Cope 1886 [synonym]
Fm. †Dianolepididae Long 1983
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G. †Dianolepis Chang 1965
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†Dianolepis liui Chang 1965
G. †Jiangxilepis Zhang and Liu 1991
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†Jiangxilepis longibrachius Zhang and Liu 1991
G. †Kirgisolepis Panteleyev 1992
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†Kirgisolepis karabaltaensis Panteleyev 1992
Invalid names: Jiangxilepidae Zhang and Liu 1991 [synonym], Tenizolepidinae Moloshnikov 2012 [invalid subgroup], Wudinolepidae Chang 1965 [synonym]
Fm. †Microbrachiidae Stensiö 1931
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G. †Hohsienolepis P’an and Wang 1978
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†Hohsienolepis hsintuensis P’an and Wang 1978
G. †Microbrachius Traquair 1888
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†Microbrachius chuandongensis Wang and Zhang 1999
†Microbrachius dicki Traquair 1888
†Microbrachius kedoae den Blaauwen et al. 2018
Fm. †Tubalepididae Moloshnikov 2011
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G. †Tongdulepis Luo et al. 2025
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†Tongdulepis concavus Luo et al. 2025
G. †Tubalepis Panteleyev and Moloshnikov 2003
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†Tubalepis extensa Sergienko 1961
Fm. †Liujiangolepidae Wang 1987
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G. †Liujiangolepis Wang 1987
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†Liujiangolepis suni Wang 1987
G. †Macrodontophion Zborzewski 1834
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Fm. †Macropetalichthyidae Eastman 1898
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G. †Acanthaspis Newberry 1875
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†Acanthaspis arctica Heintz 1929
G. †Ellopetalichthys Orvig 1957
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G. †Epipetalichthys Stensio 1925
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G. †Guangxipetalichthys Ji and Pan 1997
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†Guangxipetalichthys bobaiensis Ji and Pan 1997
G. †Heintzaspis Strand 1932
G. †Lunaspis Broili 1929
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†Lunaspis broilii Gross 1937
†Lunaspis heroldi Broili 1929
†Lunaspis pruemiensis Kayser 1880
G. †Macropetalichthys Norwood and Owen 1846
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†Macropetalichthys rapheidolabis Norwood and Owen 1846
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Invalid names: Agassichthys manni Newberry 1857 [synonym]
G. †Notopetalichthys Woodward 1941
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†Notopetalichthys hillsi Woodward 1941
G. †Pampetalichthys Zhu 2000
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+
Invalid names: Holopetalichthys longhuaensis Zhu and Wang 1996 [replaced]
G. †Sinopetalichthys P'an et al. 1975
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†Sinopetalichthys kueiyangensis P'an et al. 1975
G. †Wijdeaspis Obruchev 1964
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†Wijdeaspis arctica Heintz 1929
†Wijdeaspis warrooensis Young 1978
Invalid names: Heintzaspidae Strand 1942 [synonym]
Fm. †Quasipetalichthyidae Liu 1991
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G. †Pauropetalichthys Pan et al. 2015
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†Pauropetalichthys magnoculus Pan et al. 2015
G. †Quasipetalichthys Liu 1973
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Fm. †Minicranidae Jia 2008
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G. †Minicrania Zhu and Janvier 1996
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†Minicrania lirouyii Zhu and Janvier 1996
†Minicrania lissa Janvier and Phuong 1999
G. †Phymolepis Zhang 1978
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†Phymolepis guoruii Zhu 1996
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†Pterichthyodid anitarch Turner et al. 1981
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Fm. †Ptyctodontidae Woodward 1891
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G. †Acmoniodus Hussakof and Bryant 1920
G. †Aulacosteus Eichwald 1846
G. †Chelyophorus Agassiz 1845
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†Chelyophorus pskovensis Obruchev 1947
†Chelyophorus verneuili Agassiz 1844
G. †Ctenurella Ørvig 1960
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†Ctenurella gladbachensis Ørvig 1960
G. †Desmoporella Orvig 1971
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†Desmoporella minor Gross 1933
G. †Eczematolepis Miller 1892
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†Eczematolepis fragilis Newberry 1857
†Eczematolepis pustulosus Newberry 1875
†Eczematolepis telleri Eastman 1898
Invalid names: Acantholepis Newberry 1875 [replaced]
G. †Goniosteus Gross 1933
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G. †Materpiscis Long et al. 2008
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†Materpiscis attenboroughi Long et al. 2008
G. †Palaeomylus Woodward 1891
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†Palaeomylus crassus Newberry 1873
†Palaeomylus frangens Newberry 1878
†Palaeomylus greenei Newberry 1889
†Palaeomylus hussakofi Bryant 1935
†Palaeomylus lunaeformis Hussakof and Bryant 1919
†Palaeomylus minor Bryant 1935
†Palaeomylus predator Eastman 1898
G. †Ptyctodopsis Denison 1985
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†Ptyctodopsis menzeli Denison 1985
G. †Ptyctodus Pander 1858
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†Ptyctodus bradyi Hussakof 1942
†Ptyctodus calceolus Newberry and Worthen 1866
†Ptyctodus compressus Eastman 1898
†Ptyctodus czarnockii Gorizdro-Kulczykka 1934
†Ptyctodus eastmani Weller 1906
†Ptyctodus ferox Eastman 1898
†Ptyctodus howlandi Hussakof and Bryant 1919
†Ptyctodus kielcensis Gorizdro-Kulczykka 1934
†Ptyctodus major Rohon 1895
†Ptyctodus molaris Eastman 1898
†Ptyctodus obliquus Pander 1858
†Ptyctodus panderi Eastman 1898
†Ptyctodus punctatus Eastman 1898
†Ptyctodus reimanni Carter 1942
†Ptyctodus sibericus Tolmachoff 1915
G. †Ramphodus Jaekel 1903
G. †Rhynchodus Newberry 1873
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†Rhynchodus excavatus Newberry 1877
†Rhynchodus eximius Jaekel 1919
†Rhynchodus major Eastman 1898
†Rhynchodus marginalis Gorizdro-Kulczykka 1934
†Rhynchodus occidentalis Newberry 1878
†Rhynchodus ornatus Hussakof and Bryant 1919
†Rhynchodus pertenuis Eastman 1904
†Rhynchodus rostratus Eastman 1898
†Rhynchodus secans Newberry 1873
†Rhynchodus telleri Hussakof and Bryant 1919
†Rhynchodus tetrodon Jaekel 1903
†Rhynchodus wildungensis Jaekel 1929
G. Rinodus Newberry and Worthen 1866
Invalid names: Aulacosteidae Fowler 1947 [synonym]
Fm. †Silurolepidae Zhang et al. 2010
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G. †Silurolepis Zhang et al. 2010
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†Silurolepis platydorsalis Zhang et al. 2010
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Fm. †Sinolepidae Liu and P'an 1958
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G. †Dayaoshania Ritchie et al. 1992
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†Dayaoshania youngi Ritchie et al. 1992
G. †Grenfellaspis Ritchie et al. 1992
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†Grenfellaspis branagani Ritchie et al. 1992
G. †Sinolepis Liu and Pan 1958
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†Sinolepis macrocephala Liu and Pan 1958
†Sinolepis szei Pan et al. 1987
†Sinolepis wutungensis Liu and P'am 1958
G. †Xichonolepis P’an and Wang 1978
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†Xichonolepis qujingensis P’an and Wang 1978
Or. †Yunnanolepidiformes Zhang 1978
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Fm. †Yunnanolepididae Zhang 1978
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G. †Heteroyunnanolepis Wang 1994
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G. †Mizia Zhu 1996
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†Mizia longhuaensis Zhu 1996
†Mizia parvus Zhu 1996
G. †Parayunnanolepis Zhang et al. 2001
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†Parayunnanolepis xitunensis Zhang et al. 2001
G. †Yunnanolepis Liu 1963
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†Yunnanolepis bacboensis Thanh and Janvier 1990
†Yunnanolepis chii Liu 1963
†Yunnanolepis deprati Thanh and Janvier 1990
†Yunnanolepis spinulosa Janvier and Phuong 1999
Invalid names: Chuchinolepididae [empty]
G. †Zhanjilepis Zhang 1978
+
†Zhanjilepis aspratilis Zhang 1978
Invalid names: Antiarchi Cope 1885 [synonym]
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: marinesubp
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: nektonicc
Diet: carnivorec
Created: 2004-08-17 14:32:58
Modified: 2004-08-17 16:32:58
Source: c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Carroll 1988, Kiessling 2004

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Gorstian to the top of the Rhaetian or 426.70000 to 201.40000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 425.0 Ma

Collections (255 total)

Oldest occurrences

Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Gorstian426.7 - 425.0China (Junnan) Silurolepis platydorsalis, Yunnanolepiformes sp. (182557)
Lochkovian419.62 - 413.02China (Guangxi) Yunnanolepis sp. (4005) Yunnanolepis sp., Orientolepis neokwangsiensis (4007)
Lochkovian419.62 - 413.02China (Yunnan) Minicrania lirouyii (237781) Yunnanolepis parvus, Yunnanolepis chii, Chuchinolepis gracilis, Heteroyunnanolepis qujingensis, Minicrania lirouyii, Yunnanolepis porifera, Zhanjilepis aspratilis (173380) Yunnanolepis sp., Zhanjilepis sp., Pauropetalichthys magnoculus, Yunnanolepis chii, Chuchinolepis sp., Chuchinolepis gracilis, Chuchinolepis qujingensis, Chuchinolepis robusta, Yunnanolepis porifera, Phymolepis guoruii, Chuchinolepis sulcata, Zhanjilepis aspratilis, Parayunnanolepis xitunensis, Mizia parvus, Phymolepis cuifengshanensis (162781)
Lochkovian - Pragian419.62 - 410.62Vietnam (Bac Kan) Yunnanolepidae indet. (238033)
Early/Lower Devonian419.62 - 393.47Belarus (Vitebsk) Sherbonaspis talimaae (232499)
Late/Upper Lochkovian414.6 - 413.02Vietnam Heteroyunnanolepis qujingensis, Zhanjilepis aspratilis, Minicrania lissa (239311) Heteroyunnanolepis sp. (238525)
Pragian413.02 - 410.62China Antiarchi indet. (238271) Houershanaspis zhangi (239893) Liujiangolepis suni (238492) Yunnanolepis sp., Pampetalichthys sp. (238849)
Pragian413.02 - 410.62China (Yunnan) Antiarcha indet. (196858)
Pragian413.02 - 410.62Vietnam Yunnanolepis bacboensis, Yunnanolepis deprati, Chuchinolepis dongmoensis, Vanchienolepis langsonensis (238069)
Early/Lower Emsian410.62 - 399.5Germany Grossaspis carinata (230899) Lunaspis heroldi, Lunaspis broilii (26904)
Early/Lower Emsian410.62 - 399.5China Holopetalichthys longhuaensis, Mizia longhuaensis (238387)
Emsian410.62 - 393.47Australia (Queensland) Pterichthyodid anitarch (119809)
Emsian410.62 - 393.47China (Guizhou) Sinopetalichthys kueiyangensis (238876)
Emsian410.62 - 393.47China Bothriolepis tungseni, Dianolepis liui (238079) Dayaoshania youngi (238076) Luquanolepis pileos (238498)
Emsian410.62 - 393.47Canada (Nunavut) Asterolepis sp. (26588 26592)
Emsian410.62 - 393.47Australia (Victoria) Wijdeaspis warrooensis (239063)
Emsian410.62 - 393.47Russian Federation (Severnaya Zemlya) Wijdeaspis arctica (196699)
Emsian410.62 - 393.47Australia (New South Wales) Notopetalichthys hillsi (238657) Sherbonaspis hillsi, Wijdeaspis warrooensis, Monarolepis verrucosa (233190)
Emsian - Givetian410.62 - 382.31Antarctica Bothriolepis askinae (207077) Bothriolepis kohni (207078) Bothriolepis portalensis (207084)
Late/Upper Emsian399.5 - 393.47China Wudinolepis weni, Wufengshania magniforaminis (238391)