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Devonian fossil fish

Cephalarpis sp. 

Where was it found?

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Freshwater streams and estuaries

Diet and foraging method

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Swimms along the bottom and moving its head from side to side to stir up bottom sediment and find worms and crustaceans, sifting through detritus
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Key adaptation

Cephalaspis was presumed to be a bottom feeder because its mouth was situated beneath its head, which was lined with sensory patches to sense for its burrowing prey. It was heavily armoured with a head shield, thought to be a predator defence. 

Social organisation and mating system

N/A

Did you know that...?

Cephalaspis were jawless and unable to bite, so they had to suck up prey with detritus from the river or estuary bottom.

Taxonomy

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