Galeaspida

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iGaleaspids

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Galeaspida

Galeaspida (galeaspids) are an extinct taxon of jawless marine and freshwater fish. Their name is derived from a latin word for helmet, galea, and refers to their massive bone shield on the head. Galeaspida lived in shallow, fresh water and marine environments during the Silurian and Devonian times (430 to 370 million years ago). Their morphology is generally similar to that of Osteostraci.

Galeaspida had a large opening on the dorsal surface of the head shield, which was connected to the pharynx and gill chamber. It may have served both the olfaction and the intake of the respiratory water similar to the nasopharyngeal duct of hagfishes. Galeaspids are also the vertebrates which have the largest number of gills, as some species had up to 45 gill openings (Polybranchiaspidida). The body is covered with minute scales arranged in oblique rows and there is no other fin than the caudal fin. The mouth and gill openings are situated on the ventral side of the head, which is flat and suggests that they were bottom-dwellers.

There are about seventy species of Galeaspids divided into Eugaleaspidiformes and Polybranchiaspidida. All fossils were found in China (including Tibet), and northern Vietnam.