| Pharyngolepis Temporal range: Late Silurian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | †Anaspida |
| Order: | †Birkeniiformes |
| Family: | †Pharyngolepididae Kiær 1924 corrig. |
| Genus: | †Pharyngolepis Kiaer 1911 |
| Type species | |
| Pharyngolepis oblonga Kiær 1911 | |
| Species | |
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Pharyngolepis is an extinct genus of primitive jawless fish that lived in the Silurian period of what is now Norway.
Pharyngolepis had well-developed anal and caudal fins, but no paired or dorsal fins that would have helped stabilise it in the water, and so was probably a poor swimmer, remaining close to the sea bottom. The pectoral fins were instead replaced by bony spines, possibly for protection against predators, and there was a row of spines along the back. It probably scooped up food from the ocean floor.
References
- Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 25. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
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| Taxon identifiers | |
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| Pharyngolepis | |
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