Pteraspis (from 'wing' or 'fin' and 'shield') is an extinct genus of pteraspidid heterostracan agnathan vertebrate that lived from the Lochkovian to Eifelian epochs of the Devonian period in what is now Brazil (Eifelian Maecuru Formation), Britain (Lochkovian Ditton Group), Ukraine (Lochkovian Ivane Suite, Pragian Babin Sandstone) and Belgium. Description Like other heterostracan fishes, Pteraspis had a protective armored plating covering the front of its body. Though lacking fins other than its lobed tail, it is thought to have been a good swimmer thanks to stiff, wing-like protrusions derived from the armoured plates over its gills. This, along with the horn-like rostrum, made Pteraspis very streamlined in shape; a perfect quality for a good swimmer. Pteraspis also had some stiff spikes on its back, possibly an additional form of protection against predators. It is thought to have fed from shoals of plankton just under the ocean surface, and is found in association with marine fossils. Pteraspis grew to an estimated length of . References Pteraspidiformes genera Devonian jawless fish Early Devonian fish Early Devonian genus first appearances Lochkovian life Pragian life Emsian life Eifelian life Middle Devonian genus extinctions Early Devonian fish of Europe Devonian England Fossils of England Paleozoic Ukraine Fossils of Ukraine Devonian animals of South America Devonian Brazil Fossils of Brazil Fossil taxa described in 1835 Fossil taxa described in 1847 Taxa named by Louis Agassiz