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Archipelepididae

Archipelepis
Temporal range: Late Telychian-Sheinwoodian
Archipelepis turbinata.jpg
A. turbinata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Thelodonti
Order: Archipelepidiformes
Family: Archipelepididae
Genus: Archipelepis
Märss in Soehn et al., 2001
Type species
Archipelepis turbinata
Märss in Soehn et al., 2001
Species
  • Archipelepis bifurcata
  • Archipelepis turbinata

Archipelepis is a genus of extinct thelodont agnathans, and are the most primitive recognized thelodonts of which whole body fossils are known. Fossils of bodies and scales are currently known from Late Telychian to Wenlock-aged marine strata of northern Canada.

Both species have similar body morphology, in that both resembled tadpoles with forked tails. Scale morphology differs in that A. bifurcata has forked scales with two prong-like spires, and that A. turbinata has bulbous, pointed scales that resemble upside-down spinning tops.


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