Kingdom Animalia Family Plourdosteidae Scientific name Mcnamaraspis kaprios Rank Genus | Class Placodermi Species Mcnamaraspis kaprios Phylum Chordata Order Arthrodira | |
Similar Arthrodira, Rolfosteus, Incisoscutum, Bruntonichthys, Gorgonichthys | ||
Mcnamaraspis kaprios is an arthrodiran placoderm of the Family Plourdosteidae that inhabited the ancient reef system of north Western Australia during the Frasnian epoch of the Late Devonian period (c. 380-375 million years ago). The type specimen was found and described by John A. Long from the Gogo Formation near Fitzroy Crossing. This fossil fish showed new anatomical features in arthrodires, like the well-preserved annular cartilages of the snout, previously inferred to be present by Erik Stensiö of Sweden.
On 5 December 1995, Mcnamaraspis kaprios was officially proclaimed as the State Fossil emblem of Western Australia by the Governor of Western Australia, thus becoming the first official state fossil emblem for any state of Australia.
References
Mcnamaraspis kaprios Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA