| Rolfosteus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | †Placodermi |
| Order: | †Arthrodira |
| Suborder: | †Brachythoraci |
| Family: | †Camuropiscidae |
| Genus: | †Rolfosteus Dennis and Miles, 1979 |
| Species | |
| |
Rolfosteus is anextinctmonospecificgenus ofarthrodireplacoderm from the EarlyFrasnian stage of theLate Devonian period, found at theGogo Formation ofWestern Australia.[1]
Rolfosteus had a skull reaching 11.5 centimetres (4.5 in),[1] with tough plating on the front of its body. Like other arthrodires, such asCoccosteus and the giantDunkleosteus, it had sharp, bony plates on its mouth which formed a turtle-like beak for cutting prey to pieces.Rolfosteus's most unusual feature was its highly elongatedrostrum (snout), which may have been used to enhance its sense of smell as well as increase its hydrodynamic streamlining, making it well adapted to be apelagicpursuit predator. Its fast jaw movement and jaw morphology allowed it to effectively capture prey and swallow them whole.[2]
Rolfosteus is a member of thefamilyCamuropiscidae under thesuperfamilyIncisoscutoidea, which belongs to thecladeCoccosteomorphi, one of the two major clades withinEubrachythoraci.[3][4] Thecladogram below shows thephylogeny ofRolfosteus:[4]
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