Shimenolepis

Shimenolepis Temporal range: Ludfordian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Shimenolepis granifera
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Placodermi
Order:	Yunnanolepiformes
Genus:	Shimenolepis
Type species
Shimenolepis granifera Junqing, 1991

Shimenolepis granifera is an extinct yunnanolepid placoderm from the Xiaoxi Formation, Li County, Hunan, China. Its age is discussed, while originally considered as late Llandovery, it is later considered to belong to the Ludlow Epoch instead.[1] It was the first described Silurian placoderm, and was the earliest known placoderm until Xiushanosteus was described,[2] known from distinctively ordered plates.

Description

Plates

Shimenolepis plates are very similar to the early Devonian yunnanolepid Zhanjilepis, also known from distinctively ornamented plates.[3]

References

1. Pan, Zhaohui; Niu, Zhibin; Xian, Zumin; Zhu, Min (2023-01-03). "A novel specimen-based mid-Paleozoic dataset of antiarch placoderms (the most basal jawed vertebrates)". Earth System Science Data. 15 (1): 41–51. doi:10.5194/essd-15-41-2023. ISSN 1866-3508.
2. Zhu, You-an; Li, Qiang; Lu, Jing; Chen, Yang; Wang, Jianhua; Gai, Zhikun; Zhao, Wenjin; Wei, Guangbiao; Yu, Yilun; Ahlberg, Per E.; Zhu, Min (2022-09-01). "The oldest complete jawed vertebrates from the early Silurian of China". Nature. 609 (7929): 954–958. Bibcode:2022Natur.609..954Z. doi:10.1038/s41586-022-05136-8. ISSN 0028-0836.
3. Wang Junqing (1991). "The Antiarchi from Early Silurian Hunan" (PDF). Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 21 (3): 240–244. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-03-29. Retrieved 2023-10-07.