Pituriaspida Temporal range:393.3–382.7 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Middle Devonian
Reconstruction ofNeeyambaspis enigmatica andPituriaspis doylei.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Infraphylum:	Agnatha
Superclass:	†Cephalaspidomorphi
Class:	†Pituriaspida Young 1991
Order:	†Pituriaspidiformes
Family:	†Pituriaspididae
Genera
†Pituriaspis †Neeyambaspis
Synonyms
NeeyambaspididaeDavis 1994

ThePituriaspida ('Pituri-shield' or 'hallucinogen-shield') are a smallgroup of extinct armoredjawless fishes with tremendous nose-likerostrums, which lived in themarine,deltaic environments ofMiddle DevonianAustralia (about 393.3—382.7 Ma). They are known only by twospecies,Pituriaspis doylei andNeeyambaspis enigmatica found in a singlesandstone location of theGeorgina Basin, in WesternQueensland,Australia.

"Pituriaspida" is often translated as 'hallucinogenic shield.'Pituri is ahallucinogenic drug, made from the leaves of theCorkwood Tree andAcacia ash, and used by localAborigineshamans for vision quests. The pituriaspids' discoverer, Dr Gavin Young, namedPituriaspis after the drug because, upon examining the first specimens, he suspected he was hallucinating (Long, p 59). The better studied species -Pituriaspis doylei, which had a superficial resemblance to theOsteostraci, had an elongate headshield, that, coupled with its spear-like rostrum, gave it a throwing-dart-like appearance.Neeyambaspis enigmatica had a much smaller and shorter rostrum, and a more triangular headshield, making it look as though it were aguitar pick with a tail.

• Janvier, Philippe. Early Vertebrates. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 1998 (ISBN 0-19-854047-7).
• Long, John A. The Rise of Fishes: 500 Million Years of Evolution. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996 (ISBN 0-8018-5438-5).

• Pituriaspida

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