Microbrachius
Sign in to saveMicrobrachius is an extinct genus of tiny, advanced antiarch placoderms closely related to the bothriolepids. Specimens range in age from the Lower Devonian Late Emsian Stage (393.3 Ma) to the Middle Devonian Upper Givetian Stage (382.7 Ma). They are characterized by having large heads with short thoracic armor of an average length of 2–4 cm. There are patterns of small, but noticeable tubercles on the armor, with the arrangement varying from species to species. Specimens of Microbrachius have been found in Scotland, Belarus, Estonia, and China.
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- Estonian Museum of Natural History - Microbrachius.png
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- taxon name
- Microbrachius
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Article
13 sectionsContents
- Anatomy
- Species
- ''Microbrachius dicki''
- ''Microbrachius'' ''sinensis''
- ''Microbrachius'' ''chuandongensis''
- ''Microbrachius'' ''kedoae''
- Sexual dimorphism and mating
- Male claspers anatomy
- Female genital plate anatomy
- Differences from other groups
- Mating behavior
- Implications
- References
Microbrachius is an extinct genus of tiny, advanced antiarch placoderms closely related to the bothriolepids. Specimens range in age from the Lower Devonian Late Emsian Stage (393.3 Ma) to the Middle Devonian Upper Givetian Stage (382.7 Ma). They are characterized by having large heads with short thoracic armor of an average length of 2–4 cm. There are patterns of small, but noticeable tubercles on the armor, with the arrangement varying from species to species. Specimens of Microbrachius have been found in Scotland, Belarus, Estonia, and China.
Microbrachius dicki is the earliest placoderm and vertebrate that shows evidence of internal fertilization.