INVERTEBRATES
TRILOBITES ('THREE-LOBED')SCIENTIFIC NAME: Phacops SIZE: 4.5 cm (1.75 inches) DIET: Edible particles HABITAT: Warm, shallow seas DESTINATION FOUND: Worldwide TIME: Devonian
Before fish, ancient seas teamed with trilobites. These are the relatives of living woodlice, crabs and insects. They were among the earliest arthropods. Most trilobites crawled across the ocean floor, although some species swam. They varied in size with some being microscopic while others were larger than a serving dish. With more than 15,000 species, trilobites outnumbered any other extinct creature. The last remaining species of the trilobites survived until the mass extinction at the end of the Permian period |
SEA SCORPIONS ('BITING CLAWS')SCIENTIFIC NAME: Pterygotus SIZE: Up to 2.3 m (7ft 4 in) long DIET: Fish HABITAT: Shallow seas DESTINATION FOUND: Europe, North America TIME: Late Silurian
The largest arthropods to have ever lived. Before predatory fish evolved, sea scorpions were among the most dominant hunters of shallow seas. Some species could even crawl ashore, where they breathed air by a means of special lungs, like certain land crabs today. |
EVOLVING INSECTS
MEGANEURASCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: Wingspan up to 70cm (27 inches) DIET: Insects HABITAT: Tropical swamp forest DESTINATION FOUND: Europe, TIME: Late carboniferous period
A giant, primitive dragonfly which flew by beating two pairs of wings, changing direction and speed instantly. |
ARCHIMYLACRISSCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 2-3 cm DIET: Anything remotely edible HABITAT: Warm swamp-forest floors DESTINATION FOUND: Europe, North America TIME: Late carboniferous period
Lived 300 million years ago. These insects had a long head shield with long curved antennae and folding wings. Scuttling about the undergrowth, they chewed anything remotely edible. |
AMMONITES AND BELEMNITES
ECHIOCERASSCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 6 cm (2.5 inches) across DIET: Tiny organisms HABITAT: Shallow seas DESTINATION FOUND: Worldwide TIME: Early Jurassic period
Its narrow, loosely coiled shell was reinforced by short straight ribs that ran across it. As it foraged for food, its tentacled head poked out. It wafted over the seabed, grabbing anything edible it could stuff in its beak. |
BELEMNOTEUTHISSCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 6 cm (2.5 inches) across DIET: Tiny organisms HABITAT: Shallow seas DESTINATION FOUND: Worldwide TIME: Early Jurassic period
Long bodied creatures that resemble the modern squid. From the head sprang 10 tentacles armed with suckers and hooks used for grappling small, slow-moving sea creatures to its beak. For a high speed getaway or fast attack, it propelled its body by squirting jets of water. |
JAWLESS FISH
WING SHIELDSCIENTIFIC NAME: Pteraspis SIZE: 20 cm (8 inches) long DIET: Tiny water animals HABITAT: Shallow seas DESTINATION FOUND: Europe, Asia, North America TIME: Early Devonian period
Got its name from the pointed, wing-like, armoured spines sticking out of its sides. Lacking jaws, the mouth was fixed open, guzzling up its prey tiny shrimp. Its species had great diversity and populations throughout the time of its dominance. |
CEPHALASPISSCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 6 inches long DIET: Tiny water animals HABITAT: Shallow seas DESTINATION FOUND: Europe, Asia, North America TIME: Early Devonian period
It's key features include a big, bony head shield with eyes on top, a mouth beneath, and sense organs on the sides and top of the head. Paired scaly flaps similar to pectoral fins provided lift and balance and a dorsal fin helped stop the body from rolling or tuning over. |
ARMOURED FISH
DUNKLE'S BONY ONESCIENTIFIC NAME: Dunkleosteus SIZE: 5 m (16ft) long DIET: Fish HABITAT: oceans DESTINATION FOUND: Europe, Africa, North America TIME: Late Devonian period
One of the largest and most formidable of all placoderms. Only its head and shoulder areas were covered by a protective shield, leaving its big fleshy pictorial fins to manoeuvre. It rocked back its head to open its jaws, revealing razor like bony plates that worked like teeth. |
GEMUENDINASCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 1 m long DIET: Fish and shellfish HABITAT: oceans DESTINATION FOUND: Europe, North America TIME: Early Devonian period
Its flat body resembles a modern ray. It had broad, wing-like pectoral fins. A short, bony shield guarded its foreparts and tiny bony plates ran down its slander tail. Patrolling the seabed, it would thrust out its jaws, crushing shellfish between its tooth-like tubercules. |
SHARKS AND RAYS
CLADOSELACHESCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 2 m long DIET: Fish and crustaceans HABITAT: seas DESTINATION FOUND: North America TIME: Late Devonian period
One of the earliest known sharks. This formidable carnivore hunted fish and crustaceans. It was much like modern sharks today, as it had a torpedo-shaped body, big eyes, large pectoral fins and a large tail. It had a short blunt snout and its mouth was located at the front of its head rather than underneath. |
HELIOBATISSCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 90 cm long DIET: Small crustaceans HABITAT: Freshwater rivers and lakes DESTINATION FOUND: North America TIME: Late Devonian period
Lived about 50 million years ago. Its flat, round body had a long whip-like tail armed with barbed spines. Heliobatis lay on the bottom of rivers and lakes, snapping up crayfish and prawns. When attacked, it lashed out with its tail. The spins at the tip of its tail could inject poison into the skin of its enemy. |