What did Placoderms look like?

What did Placoderms look like?

Most placoderms were small or moderate in size, but a few may have reached a length of 13 feet (4 metres). The name is derived from their characteristic armour of dermal, or skin, bones. This armour formed a head shield and a trunk shield, the two commonly connected by a paired joint in the neck region.

Why did Placoderms go extinct?

It was thought for a time that placoderms became extinct due to competition from the first bony fish and early sharks, given a combination of the supposed inherent superiority of bony fish and the presumed sluggishness of placoderms.

How long did the Placoderm last?

about fifty million yearsThe evolutionary history of placoderms has been compared to a brilliant light bulb that soon burns out. They were a highly successful and diverse taxon, but they lasted only about fifty million years.

Are humans Placoderms?

The placoderms were a diverse group of ancient armoured fishes and it's widely believed that they are ancestral to virtually all vertebrates alive today, including humans.