Ramsaasalepis

 ( Birkeniiformes ) 

Ramsaasalepis is an extinction genus of Agnatha that lived during the Silurian, approximately 427-419 million years ago. It is the type and the only known genus of the family Ramsaasalepididae, one of many families of prehistoric jawless fish, and contains the single species Ramsaasalepis porosa.

It was described based on a number of Fossil, disarticulated thelodont scales that may have had a ridged texture. The species had a well-developed vascular canal system. However, unlike most other Agnatha, Ramsaasalepis porosa possessed neither bony armor nor dermal development typical of the Subphylum. Based on these characteristics and its Stratigraphy, it is speculated to be most closely related to the genera Septentrionia and Tahulalepis.

Ramsaasalepis would likely have been found in nutrient-rich, shallow Marine water. It has been speculated to have ranged around 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) in length. Competition with recently evolved Gnathostomata, and changing Sea level have been suggested as reasons for the extinction of this and many other jawless fish species. It was probably a filter feeder or a scavenger.

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Discovery Ramsaasalepis was discovered in Skåne, Sweden, by paleontologists Henning Blom, Tiiu Märss, and Carl Miller in 2003. The species' name derives from porosus, the Latin word for 'porous', and Ramsåsa, the municipality in which it was discovered.

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External links

Categories: Birkeniiformes, Fossil Taxa Described In 2002, Birkeniiformes Genera, Monotypic Prehistoric Fish Genera

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