Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
257 / Paleozoic
Climatius
Climatius reticulatus
Rows of paired ventral spines formed a defensive fence beneath this small early jawed fish.
View original image · 1536 × 1024- Time range
- About 420–400 million years ago
- Final stage
- Early Devonian
- Geographic range
- Estuaries and freshwater lakes · Scotland
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Climatius?
Climatius (Climatius reticulatus) was an extinct organism known from About 420–400 million years ago, with a range in Estuaries and freshwater lakes · Scotland.
Life and ecology
Climatius was an active acanthodian protected by small head plates and numerous fin spines, with tooth-like structures for seizing tiny prey.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Climatius disappear?
Devonian fishes diversified rapidly, but a younger fauna does not by itself show that they replaced this early acanthodian.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Climatius?
Scottish impressions preserve head armor, fin spines, scales and the tail fin.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Rewrote an extinction cause that presented environmental or faunal turnover as established; it is now given as context the record does not prove.
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS