| Titanichthys | |
|---|---|
.png) | |
| Rendered reconstruction ofTitanichthys clarkii | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | †Placodermi |
| Order: | †Arthrodira |
| Suborder: | †Brachythoraci |
| Superfamily: | †Dinichthyloidea |
| Family: | †Titanichthyidae Dean, 1901 |
| Genus: | †Titanichthys Newberry, 1885 |
| Type species | |
| †Titanichthys agassizi Newberry, 1885 | |
| Species | |
| |
| Synonyms | |
Brontichthys | |
Titanichthys (meaning "titanic fish") is anextinctgenus of giant, aberrant marineplacoderm from shallow seas of the LateDevonian ofMorocco, Eastern North America, and possibly Europe.[1] Many of the species approachedDunkleosteus in size and build. Unlike its relative, however, the various species ofTitanichthys had small, ineffective-looking mouth-plates that lacked a sharp cutting edge. It is assumed thatTitanichthys was afilter feeder that used its capacious mouth to swallow or inhale schools of small,anchovy-like fish, or possiblykrill-likezooplankton, and that the mouth-plates retained the prey while allowing the water to escape as it closed its mouth. A study has since confirmed this assumption as its jaws are functionally closer to that of filter feeders like baleen whales and basking sharks, and it appears to have developed from benthic durophagists that became pelagic suspension feeders. This would make it the first (known) large-sized vertebrate filter feeder.[2]Titanichthys was estimated to have reached a length of 7–7.6 m (23–25 ft),[3][4][5] but Engelman (2023) suggested thatTitanichthys was comparable in size toDunkleosteus, likely measuring about or just over 4.1 metres (13.5 ft) in length.[6]
Titanichthys is thought to have been a basalaspinothoracid, closest related toBungartius andTafilalichthys.[7]
The genus shows a great diversity in theFamennian-agedCleveland Shale, though species are also found in similarly aged strata in Morocco and possibly theHoly Cross Mountains in Poland.[1]
This is the type species, from the Cleveland Shale. Its infrognathals are strongly recurved medially, and is elongated with a spatula-like process at the anterior end. The headshield averages about 60 cm (24 in) in length.[1]
This Cleveland Shale species is based on an infragnathal bone more than 36 cm (14 in) in length. May possibly be a synonym ofT. agassizi.[8]
This Cleveland Shale species has infragnathals that are not as recurved asT. agassizi's. The cranial roof is comparatively narrower and more rounded. It is the largest known species in the genus, and possibly one of the largest Devonian vertebrates known. The head is about 90 cm (35 in) in length.[8]
This Cleveland Shale species is known from a badly preserved, incomplete infragnathal. It was originally described by Claypole as "Brontichthys clarki" in 1894.[8] As "Brontichthys" is a junior synonym ofTitanichthys, it should not be confused with another, similarly-named arthrodire,Bruntonichthys ofDunkleosteidae.
This Cleveland Shale species has an infragnathal as large as that ofT. clarkii, thoughT. rectus' infragnathal is much straighter, and does not have a spatula-like process on its anterior end.[8]
This species placement within the genus is in doubt. It is based on incomplete nuchal and central plates found in Upper Famennian-aged marine strata of the Holy Cross Mountains in Poland.[8]
This species is found in Lower Famennian-aged marine strata of Tafilalet, Southern Morocco. The fossil material of this species strongly suggests it is as large as the Cleveland Shale'T. clarkii.[8] The average combined length of the head and trunk shields forT. termieri is estimated to be 200 cm (79 in)[8] When the first fossils ofT. termieri were found by geologistHenri Termier, the specimens were originally placed within the genusGorgonichthys - that is, after Termier was able to convince his colleagues that the bone scraps were of a placoderm, and not adinosaur.[9]
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