Astraspis: Research Database
Theropoda · Cretaceous · Unknown
Research Note: Astraspis was a theropoda from the Cretaceous of Unknown, providing important data on prehistoric life and ecosystem dynamics.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elliott 1987: Astraspis and related taxa Science | Confirmed | A | 1987 | Fossil | Elliott, Science | Taxonomy |
Lemierre Germain 2019: Astraspis and related taxa Journal of Anatomy | Confirmed | C | 2019 | Fossil | Lemierre Germain, Journal of Anatomy | Taxonomy |
Status:
Confirmed Direct evidence
Grade:A Strong consensus
B Good evidence
What We Still Do Not Know About Astraspis
- Complete skeletal morphology and ecological role.
- Phylogenetic relationships within Theropoda.
- Distribution and evolutionary history.
In Depth
Named for the star shaped denticles that covered the body, Astraspis was an Ordovician era jawless fish similar to Arandaspis and Sacabambaspis. Astraspis also seems to have had a lateral line, a series of sensory organs that run down length of the sides of the body, as in modern fish.
Further Reading
- Astraspis: The anatomy and histology of an Ordovician fish, I. J. Sansom, M. P. Smith & P. Turner - 1997.
