Traquairaspis

Traquairaspis Temporal range: Late Silurian–Early Devonian PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
reconstruction of T. cambelli
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Heterostraci
Order:	Traquairaspidiformes
Family:	Traquairaspididae
Genus:	Traquairaspis
Type species
Cyathaspis campbelli
Species
T. campbelli (type) T. pococki T. denisoni T. symmondsi T. angusta
Synonyms
Cyathaspis campbelli Phialaspis symmondsi Toombsaspis

Traquairaspis is a genus of extinct heterostracan agnathan fish known from the Silurian and Early Devonian periods. It is predominantly known from Late Silurian fluvial deposits from Wales and England: some species were also found in shallow water marine environment in Canada and North America.^[1]

"Phialaspis," T. symmondsi

The head-shield and body armor of most species form an almond shape. Plates have a distinctive ornamentation of tubercles: this ornamentation is very similar to the plate ornamentation of the heterostracan Weigeltaspis. This similarity of ornamentation creates much confusion over the taxonomical placement of Weigeltaspis, in addition to confusion over whether or not an isolated plate is of Traquairaspis, or of Weigeltaspis.^[2] The armor of T. symmondsi (syn. Phialaspis symmondsi) is shaped like a jet plane or paper airplane, with pointed wing-like crests and a dorsal crest near the posterior end of the armor.

The generic name honors Ramsay Heatley Traquair.

References

1. Dineley, DL (1964). "New specimens of Traquairaspis from Canada". Palaeontology 7 (2): 210–219.
2. Tarlo, Halstead. "LB t1965) Psammosteiformes tAgnatha)—A review with descriptions of new material from the Lower Devonian of Poland, II. Systematic Part." Palaeontologia Polonica 15: 168. Pages 20-21