Westralichthys is an extinct monospecific genus of dunkleosteoid from the Late Devonian: Middle Famennian stage from Western Australia. It is estimated to be 3 meters (9.8 ft) long.[1][2]

Westralichthys
Temporal range: Late Devonian: Middle Famennian, 371.1–359.3 Ma
Life restoration
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Placodermi
Order: Arthrodira
Suborder: Brachythoraci
Clade: Eubrachythoraci
Clade: Pachyosteomorphi
Superfamily: Dunkleosteoidea
Genus: Westralichthys
Long, 1987
Type species
Westralichthys uwagedensis
Long, 1987

Phylogeny

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Westralichthys belongs to the superfamily Dunkleosteoidea, related to the giant Dunkleosteus.[3][4] The phylogeny of Westralichthys can be shown in the cladogram below:[4]

Dunkleosteoidea

References

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  1. ^ Johanson, Zerina (1998-11-25). "The Upper Devonian fish Bothriolepis (Placodermi: Antiarchi) from near Canowindra, New South Wales, Australia". Records of the Australian Museum. 50 (3): 315–348. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.50.1998.1289. ISSN 0067-1975.
  2. ^ Vickers-Rich, Patricia; University, Monash (1991). Vertebrate palaeontology of Australasia. Lilydale, Vic: Pioneer Design Studio in cooperation with the Monash University Publications Committee, Melbourne. ISBN 978-0-909674-36-6.
  3. ^ You-An Zhu; Min Zhu (2013). "A redescription of Kiangyousteus yohii (Arthrodira: Eubrachythoraci) from the Middle Devonian of China, with remarks on the systematics of the Eubrachythoraci". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 169 (4): 798–819. doi:10.1111/zoj12089.
  4. ^ a b Zhu, You-An; Zhu, Min; Wang, Jun-Qing (1 April 2016). "Redescription of Yinostius major (Arthrodira: Heterostiidae) from the Lower Devonian of China, and the interrelationships of Brachythoraci". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 176 (4): 806–834. doi:10.1111/zoj.12356. ISSN 0024-4082.