Edaphaspis

Edaphaspis bystrowi Temporal range: Early Devonian
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Pteraspidomorphi
Subclass:	Heterostraci
Order:	Cyathaspidiformes
(unranked):	Amphiaspidida
Superfamily:	Amphiaspidoidei
Family:	Edaphaspididae Novitskaya, 1968
Genus:	Edaphaspis
Species:	E. bystrowi
Binomial name
Edaphaspis bystrowi Novitskaya, 1968

Edaphaspis bystrowi is an extinct amphiaspidid cyathaspidid heterostracan. Its fossils are restricted to early Devonian-aged marine strata of the Taimyr Peninsula, Early Devonian Siberia. E. bystrowi, as with all other amphiaspidids, is thought to have been a benthic filter feeder that lived on top of, or buried just below the surface of the substrate of hypersaline lagoon-bottoms. It is the only representative of the family Edaphaspididae.

Anatomy

E. bystrowi is known from a mostly complete cephalothoracic armor that is 16 centimeters long, and 21 centimeters wide. The armor is laterally flanked on both sides by serrated fringes. The anterior portion of the armor is missing, so experts are unsure if E. bystrowi had eyes (and preorbital openings) or not. There is a pair of branchial openings placed dorsally on a large dorsal lump at the posterior end of the armor.