Pharyngolepis

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Nisha Yadav

Physicist

Nisha Yadav is a dedicated physicist whose work bridges the gap between physics and paleontology. With a deep interest in the processes that preserve ancient life, she explores how physical principles govern fossilization and the preservation of extinct species.

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Name

Pharyngolepis.

Phonetic

Named By

Classification

Diet

Uncertain.

Species

Not Found

Size

Around‭ ‬10‭ ‬centimetres long.

Known locations

Norway.

Time Period

Late Silurian.

Fossil representation

Few specimens.

In Depth

       Pharyngolepis was a jawless fish that seems to have been intermediate in its development towards a more open water lifestyle.‭ ‬The Anal fin was present,‭ ‬and the main tail lobe bent downwards to form a rudimentary for improved locomotion through the water.‭ ‬However,‭ ‬rather than having pectoral fins,‭ ‬Pharyngolepis only had a pair of spines,‭ ‬and a series of low crested scales than ran down its back instead of a dorsal fin.‭ ‬This‭ ‬means that Pharyngolepis could not swim for extended periods or at high speeds,‭ ‬because without pectoral fins to act as hydroplanes to stabilise pitch,‭ ‬Pharyngolepis would eventually just nosedive towards the bottom.‭ ‬For this reason,‭ ‬Pharyngolepis was probably a slow swimmer that stayed close to the sea floor where it searched for small marine organisms.‭

Further Reading

A jawless fish with much better swimming adaptations that lived at the same time as Pharyngolepis is Thelodus.

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