Xiangshuiosteus
| Xiangshuiosteus Temporal range: Late Emsian[1] | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist's reconstruction | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum: | Gnathostomata |
| Class: | Placodermi |
| Order: | Arthrodira |
| Suborder: | Brachythoraci |
| Infraorder: | Pachyosteomorphi |
| Superfamily: | Dunkleosteoidea |
| Family: | Dunkleosteidae |
| Genus: | Xiangshuiosteus |
| Species: | X. wui |
| Binomial name | |
| Xiangshuiosteus wui Wang 1992[2] | |
Xiangshuiosteus wui is a brachythoracid arthrodire placoderm from the Late Emsian epoch of Wuding, Yunnan. It has recently been reassessed as a dunkleosteid.[3]
Specimen and Taxonomy
X. wui is known from a flattened, "Buddhist cap" shaped skull roof.[2] The skull roof is strongly reminiscent of those of coccosteids, but also has anatomical features otherwise diagnostic of buchanosteids.[2] This mix of anatomy lead its describer, Wang Junqing, to suggest that X. wui is the sister taxon of Coccosteidae, and represents a transitional form between Coccosteidae and Buchanosteidae.[2] A reappraisal of Kiangyousteus and several other eubrachythoracid arthrodire genera by You-An Zhu and Min Zhu lead to the conclusion that X. wui not only does not represent a transitional form between coccosteids and buchanosteids, but is actually a dunkleosteid closely related to the Gogo Reef Eastmanosteus calliaspis (which is, in turn, implied to be not of the genus Eastmanosteus).[3]
Etymology
The generic name literally translates as "Chinese: 香水; literally: "perfume"(Pinyin:Xiāngshuǐ) + bone," but actually refers to Xiangshui Valley,[note 1] the district[2] in Wuding County where the holotype was found.[2] The specific name honors Wu Baosheng, the gentleman who provided the holotype to Wang Junqing, the species' describer.[2]
See also
- Jiuchengia a coccosteid found in the same formation.
Notes
- ↑ Not to be confused with Xiangshui County (Chinese: 响水县; literally: "noisy water")(Pinyin:Xiǎng shuǐ) in Jiangsu province
References
- ↑ Wang Junqing & Min, Zhu (1995). "Age of the Jiucheng Formation of Wuding,Yunnan". Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology, Academia Sinica, Beijing. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Wang Junqing (April 1992). "NEW DISCOVERY OF EARLY MIDDLE DEVONIAN BRACHY-THORACID (PLACODERM FISH) FROM WUDING REGION OF YUNNAN". Vertebrata PalAsiatica 30 (2): 111–119.
- 1 2 Zhu, You‐An, and Min Zhu. "A redescription of Kiangyousteus yohii (Arthrodira: Eubrachythoraci) from the Middle Devonian of China, with remarks on the systematics of the Eubrachythoraci." Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society169.4 (2013): 798-819.