Parayunnanolepis xitunensis is an extinct, primitive antiarch placoderm. The fossil specimens, including a marvelously preserved, intact specimen, are known from the Lochkovian Epoch-aged Xitun Formation of Early Devonian Yunnan. The armor is very similar to that of Yunnanolepis, but is distinguished by being comparatively more flattened.

Parayunnanolepis
Temporal range: Early Devonian, Lochkovian
Artist's reconstruction
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Placodermi
Order: Antiarchi
Family: Yunnanolepididae
Genus: Parayunnanolepis
Species:
P. xitunensis
Binomial name
Parayunnanolepis xitunensis
Tong-Dzuy & Janvier 1990

An intact and exquisitely preserved specimen demonstrates that the living animal had pelvic fins and a pelvic girdle, thus proving that antiarchs had, primitively at least, pelvic girdles, and or inherited them from a common ancestor of both placoderms and other gnathostomes.[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ "New study showing pelvic girdles arose before the origin of movable jaws". phys.org. 10 Jan 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  2. ^ Zhu, Min; Yu, Xiaobo (4 Jan 2012). "An antiarch placoderm shows that pelvic girdles arose at the root of jawed vertebrates". Royal Society Biology Letters. Retrieved 31 December 2019.