Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
320 / Paleozoic
Materpiscis
Materpiscis attenboroughi
An embryo with an umbilical connection records some of the earliest live birth.
View original image · 1536 × 1024- Time range
- About 380 million years ago
- Final stage
- Late Devonian
- Geographic range
- Tropical reefs · Gogo Formation, Australia
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Materpiscis?
Materpiscis (Materpiscis attenboroughi) was an extinct organism known from About 380 million years ago, with a range in Tropical reefs · Gogo Formation, Australia.
Life and ecology
This small armored placoderm used internal fertilization and carried a single young.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Materpiscis disappear?
Late Devonian marine crises removed many placoderm lineages.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Materpiscis?
A three-dimensional mother, embryo and mineralized cord rule out ordinary stomach contents.
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?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS