Ctenurella
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| Ctenurella Fossil range: Late Devonian |
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Ctenurella ("Little Comb Tail") is an extinct genus of ptyctodont placoderm from the Late Devonian.
As with other ptyctodonts, the armor of Ctenurella was reduced to some thin plates on the head and shoulder region. Most ptyctodonts are presumed to have fed on the ocean floor, but its well-developed fins indicate it probably also swam in open waters. Ctenurella is an example of convergent evolution, having developed claspers (penis-shaped sex organs). These are also found in cartilaginous fish such as sharks. Also, Ctenurella had a long, whip-like tail, large eyes and an upper jaw which was fused to the skull. These features are also seen in the unrelated chimaeras.
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