Climatius

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Classis: †Acanthodii
Ordo: †Climatiiformes
Subordo: †Climatiida
Familia: †Climatiidae
Genus: Climatius

Climatius (from Greek: κλίμα klíma, 'gradation')[1] is an extinct genus of spiny shark. This genus is known from the Early Devonian (Lochkovian) of Europe, previously considered Silurian remains actually belong to Nostolepis instead.[2]

Climatius was an active swimmer, judging from its powerful caudal fin and abundant stabilizing fins, and probably preyed on other fish and crustaceans. Its lower jaw was lined with sharp teeth which were replaced when worn, but the upper jaw had no teeth. It had large eyes, suggesting that it hunted by sight.[3]

Climatius represents an important evolutionary link in understanding early jawed vertebrates. Its distinct features, such as double-layered globular calcified cartilage and specialized dental structures, offer crucial insights into the morphological diversification and adaptive strategies of Devonian fish.

It was a small fish, at 7.5 centimetres (3 in), and to discourage predators, Climatius sported fifteen sharp spines. There was one spine each on the paired pelvic and pectoral fins, and on the single anal and two dorsal fins, and a four pairs without fins on the fish's underside.[3]
See also

List of acanthodians

References

Parker, Steve. Dinosaurus: the complete guide to dinosaurs. Firefly Books Inc, 2003. Pg. 60

Dean, Bashford (1895). Fishes, living and fossil. An outline of their forms and probable relationships. New York, London, Macmillan and Co. p. 227.
Schnetz, Lisa; Butler, Richard J.; Coates, Michael I.; Sansom, Ivan J. (2022). Sansom, Robert (ed.). "Skeletal and soft tissue completeness of the acanthodian fossil record". Palaeontology. 65 (4). doi:10.1111/pala.12616. ISSN 0031-0239.

Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 30. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.

Carole J. Burrow, Robert G. Davidson, Jan L. Den Blaauwen & Michael J. Newman (2015) Revision of Climatius reticulatus Agassiz, 1844 (Acanthodii, Climatiidae), from the Lower Devonian of Scotland, based on new histological and morphological data, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 35:3, doi: 10.1080/02724634.2014.913421