Bulongosteus

Bulongosteus
Temporal range: Early Famennian 370 Ma
↓
Artist's reconstruction
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Placodermi
Order:
Arthrodira
Family:
Selenosteidae
Genus:
Bulongosteus
Species:
B. liui
Binomial name
Bulongosteus liui
Liu et al., 2020

Bulongosteus liui is an extinct genus of selenosteid arthrodire placoderm from the Early Famennian upper Zhulumute Formation of what is now the Junggar Basin of Xinjiang. It is the first arthrodire known from the region and the first aspinothoracid arthrodire known from continental strata. It lived in a braided river environment, and is believed to be euryhaline.[1]

Description

Bulongosetus is known from a single fragmentary head and trunk shield, the anatomy of which differs from other selenosteids. The fragments connected form a shield with a length of over 18 cm (7.1 in), though the size and features of its full body are unknown. It is identified as a member of the family by its large orbitals and slender posterior. Its plating is smooth and featureless. It most resembles the selenosteids Pachyosteus and Melanosteus.[1]

Paleoecology

Pachyosteomorphids had previously only been found in marine strata, indicating they were saltwater group. However, the Zhulumute Formation in which Bulongosteus was found was a braided river environment, indicating Bulongosteus could tolerate freshwater.[1][2] This corroborates earlier research which indicated placoderms could tolerate a wide range of salinities, and implies Bulongosteus may have traveled between salt and freshwater ecosystems as well.[1][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Liu, Yilong; Zong, Ruiwen; Gong, Yiming (2020-04-14). "The first aspinothoracid arthrodire from the Late Devonian continental strata are found in western Junggar, Xinjiang". Chinese Science Bulletin. 65 (21): 2256–2265. doi:10.1360/tb-2020-0108. ISSN 0023-074X. S2CID 225991890.
  2. ^ Wang, Zhihang (November 2014). "New knowledge on the Late Devonian Zhulumute Formation from Wulankeshun Region, Western Junggar". Journal of Stratigraphy. 38 (1): 51–59. doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-4959(2014)01-0051-09 (inactive 1 November 2024).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
  3. ^ Goedert, Jean; Lécuyer, Christophe; Amiot, Romain; Arnaud-Godet, Florent; Wang, Xu; Cui, Linlin; Cuny, Gilles; Douay, Guillaume; Fourel, François; Panczer, Gérard; Simon, Laurent; Steyer, J.-Sébastien; Zhu, Min (2018-05-30). "Euryhaline ecology of early tetrapods revealed by stable isotopes". Nature. 558 (7708): 68–72. Bibcode:2018Natur.558...68G. doi:10.1038/s41586-018-0159-2. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 29849142. S2CID 44085982.


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