Bothriolepis Temporal range: Late Devonian
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Bothriolepis canadensis cast | |
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Life restoration of Bothriolepis canadensis after Béchard et al. (2014) | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | †Placodermi |
Order: | †Antiarchi |
Family: | †Bothriolepididae |
Genus: | †Bothriolepis Eichwald, 1840 |
Species | |
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Bothriolepis (from Greek: βόθρος bóthros, 'trench' and Greek: λεπίς lepis 'scale') was a widespread, abundant and diverse genus of antiarch placoderms that lived during the Middle to Late Devonian period of the Paleozoic Era. Historically, Bothriolepis resided in an array of paleo-environments spread across every paleocontinent, including near shore marine and freshwater settings.[1] Most species of Bothriolepis were characterized as relatively small, benthic, freshwater detritivores (organisms that obtain nutrients by consuming decomposing plant/animal material), averaging around 30 centimetres (12 in) in length.[2] However, the largest species, B. rex, had an estimated bodylength of 170 centimetres (67 in). Although expansive with over 60 species found worldwide,[3] comparatively Bothriolepis is not unusually more diverse than most modern bottom dwelling species around today.[4]
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