In Depth
A ptyctodontid placoderm, the only bony armour on Ctenurella were a few bony plates that were also relatively thin. Ctenurella had large eyes and whip like tails which may be bottom dwelling deep water adaptations. This ties in with the analogy that Ctenurella were comparable to chimaera-like fish such as Ischyodus in their ecological niche. Like with other ptyctodontid placoderms like Materpiscis and Austroptyctodus, Ctenurella is believed to have given birth to live young rather than lay eggs in the open ocean.
Further Reading
- New finds of acanthodians, arthrodires, crossopterygians, ganoidsa nd dipnoans in the Upper Middle Devonian Calcareous Flags (Oberer Plattenkalk) of the Bergisch-Gladbach Paffrath Trough. Part 1, T. Orvig - 1960.
