''Murrindalaspis'' is an extinct genus of

acanthothoraci Acanthothoraci (''spine chests'') is an extinct group of chimaera-like placoderms closely related to the rhenanid placoderms. Superficially, the acanthoracids resembled scaly chimaeras and (relatively) heavily armored ptyctodonts. They were ...

placoderm Placoderms (from Ancient Greek πλάξ 'plax'', ''plakos'''Plate (animal anatomy), plate' and δέρμα 'derma'''skin') are vertebrate animals of the class (biology), class Placodermi, an extinct group of prehistoric fish known from Pal ...

found in the McLarty Member of the Murrindal Limestone, of the Early Devonian-aged Buchan Group in eastern Victoria, Australia. ''Murrindalaspis'' differs from other acanthothoracids by having a dorsal plate with a large, blade-like flattened, recurved crest emanating from the medial line, and no ventral keel. So far, the genus is known only from dorsal plates and ossified eyeballs. The genus differs from the closely related '' Weejasperaspis'' in that the dorsal crest of the latter is shorter, and triangular-shaped.

Species

There are two species in the genus. ''M. wallacei'', the type species, has a high dorsal medial crest. The second species, ''M. bairdi'', has a much lower crest, a groove along the median line of the ventral side of the dorsal plate, and somewhat coarser tubercles on the dermal surfaces of its armor.

References

External links

''Murrindalaspis''
at the

Paleobiology Database The Paleobiology Database (PBDB) is an online resource for information on the distribution and classification of fossil animals, plants, and microorganisms. History The Paleobiology Database originated in the NCEAS-funded Phanerozoic Marine Pale ...

Placoderm genera Acanthothoracids Placoderms of Australia {{placoderm-stub