Definitions for osteostracan
os·teostra·can

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. osteostracan, cephalaspidnoun

   extinct jawless fish of the Devonian with armored head

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. osteostracan

   The class Osteostraci (meaning "bony shells") is an extinct taxon of bony-armored jawless fish, termed "ostracoderms", that lived in what is now North America, Europe and Russia from the Middle Silurian to Late Devonian. Anatomically speaking, the osteostracans, especially the Devonian species, were among the most advanced of all known agnathans. This is due to the development of paired fins, and their complicated cranial anatomy. The osteostracans were more similar to lampreys than to jawed vertebrates in possessing two pairs of semicircular canals in the inner ear, as opposed to the three pairs found in the inner ears of jawed vertebrates. They are thought to be the sister-group to pituriaspids, and together, these two taxa of jawless vertebrates are the sister-group of gnathostomes. Several synapomorphies support this hypothesis, such as the presence of: sclerotic ossicles, paired pectoral fins, a dermal skeleton with three layers (a basal layer of isopedin, a middle layer of spongy bone, and a superficial layer of dentin), and perichondral bone.Most osteostracans had a massive cephalothorac shield, but all Middle and Late Devonian species appear to have had a reduced, thinner, and often micromeric dermal skeleton. This reduction may have occurred at least three times independently because the pattern of reduction is different in each taxon.They were probably relatively good swimmers, possessing dorsal fins, paired pectoral fins, and a strong tail. The shield of bone covering the head formed a single piece, and so presumably did not grow during adult life. However, the way in which the bone was laid down makes it possible to examine the imprints of nerves and other soft tissues. This reveals the presence of complex sensory organs and the sides and upper surface of the head, which may have been used to sense vibrations.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. osteostracan

   An osteostracan is a type of extinct jawless fish that is characterized by a bony armor protecting the head and forebody. They were among the first vertebrates and lived during the Silurian and Devonian periods.

Matched Categories

1. • Jawless Vertebrate

How to pronounce osteostracan?

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Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of osteostracan in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of osteostracan in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=osteostracan
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteostracan
3. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com