Best Devonian
Jennifer Clack (1947–2020) was a prominent British paleontologist who specialized in the evolution of early tetrapods. Based at the University of Cambridge, her extensive research on Devonian-era fossils fundamentally changed the scientific understanding of the fish-to-tetrapod transition. She is wi...
Per Ahlberg is a Swedish paleontologist and professor at Uppsala University who specializes in vertebrate evolution. His research focuses extensively on the anatomy and phylogeny of early Devonian tetrapods, illuminating the evolutionary transition of fish to land-dwelling animals. Ahlberg has autho...
Tiktaalik roseae is an extinct lobe-finned fish from the Late Devonian, known from fossils discovered on Ellesmere Island in Nunavut, Canada, in 2004. It combined fish characteristics, including scales and fin rays, with a mobile neck, robust ribs, a flattened skull, and limb-like internal bones cap...
Waeringoscorpio westerwaldensis is a Devonian fossil scorpion from Germany, described in 2008 and noted for preserved gill-like structures.
Dicranurus monstrosus is a Devonian-era trilobite discovered in Morocco. This species is notable for its exceptionally elaborate and branched spines along its posterior margin, making it one of the most ornate trilobites ever found. The fossil provides valuable insight into the evolution of odontop...
Acanthostega gunnari was a Late Devonian stem tetrapod known from fossils found in East Greenland. It possessed limbs with eight digits, but its limb proportions, tail fin, and internal gills indicate that it remained primarily aquatic rather than moving effectively on land. The animal provides impo...
Ichthyostega stensioei was a Late Devonian vertebrate from East Greenland and one of the earliest well-known tetrapods. It combined limbs with digits and a strong ribcage with aquatic features, including a finned tail and sensory adaptations inherited from fishlike ancestors. Its anatomy indicates t...
Eldredgeops is a genus of phacopid trilobites known chiefly from Middle Devonian rocks in eastern and central North America. Like related phacopids, it had large schizochroal compound eyes, a strongly vaulted exoskeleton, and the ability to enroll for protection. The genus was named for paleontologi...
Drotops megalomanicus is a large phacopid trilobite from Lower Devonian marine deposits in Morocco. It is distinguished by a broad, strongly vaulted exoskeleton, prominent compound eyes, and a surface covered with conspicuous tubercles. Complete specimens can reach roughly 15 centimeters or more, ma...
Terataspis grandis is a species of lichid trilobite from Devonian rocks in what is now New York State. It is known primarily from incomplete remains, including unusually large portions of the exoskeleton, so estimates of its full body length are necessarily uncertain. Reconstructions based on those...
Dunkleosteus terrelli was a large predatory placoderm fish that lived during the Late Devonian Period and is known especially from fossils found in Ohio. Its head and forward trunk were protected by articulated bony plates, while sharpened edges on its jaw plates functioned as cutting surfaces inste...
Walliserops trifurcatus is a Devonian trilobite discovered in Morocco. This iconic fossil is notable for its exceptionally long, three-pronged rostral spine—a feature characteristic of the odontopleuride group. Its complex cranial structure provides valuable insight into trilobite evolution and is p...
Erbenochile is a Devonian trilobite discovered in Morocco. This fossil is notable due to its exceptionally large, tower-like schizochroal eyes, which afforded it near panoramic vision. The structure represents the phacopida group and offers valuable insight into the visual capabilities of early arth...
Drotops is a genus of phacopid trilobites from Devonian marine rocks of what is now Morocco. Specimens are recognized by a broad cephalon, a strongly segmented thorax, prominent compound eyes of the schizochroal type, and an ability to enroll for protection. Some species attained comparatively large...
Erbenochile erbeni is a Devonian-era trilobite discovered in Morocco. It’s notable for possessing exceptionally large, hypertrophied eyes—the tallest “tower-eyes” and widest visual field among known phacopids. This fossil offers insights into the evolution of complex vision in ancient marine inverte...
The Walliserops is a remarkable Devonian trilobite fossil discovered in Morocco. It’s notable for its exceptionally long, trident-like spine projecting from its head shield. Belonging to the odontopleurida group, this specimen provides valuable insight into the evolution and diversity of early arthr...
Terataspis is a genus of lichid trilobite known from Devonian rocks in North America, especially from incomplete exoskeletal remains. Like other lichids, it possessed a strongly ornamented calcified exoskeleton, with prominent spines extending from parts of the head, thorax, and tail shield. Reconst...
Phacops rana is an iconic Devonian trilobite found primarily in eastern North America. Its exceptionally large, compound eyes are notable for their detailed structure and played a key role in paleontological research. The species was extensively studied by Niles Eldredge, contributing to the develop...
Quicke’s Mature Cheddar is an artisan hard cheese crafted by the Quicke family in Devon. The cheese utilizes cow's milk from local farms and undergoes traditional clothbound aging for a minimum of twelve months. This extended maturation develops a complex, tangy flavor profile highly valued by chees...
Dicranurus represents a significant Devonian trilobite genus characterized by distinctive, branching horns projecting from its cephalon. Fossils discovered primarily in Moroccan sedimentary rocks provide valuable insight into odontopleurid trilobites during this ancient period. The species’ unique m...
Hollardops is a genus of phacopid trilobites known from Devonian marine rocks in Morocco, particularly deposits exposed in the Anti-Atlas region. Like other phacopids, it possessed prominent schizochroal compound eyes in which relatively large lenses were individually separated. Complete specimens a...
Comura is a Devonian-era trilobite discovered in Morocco. It’s notable for its exceptionally elongated spines extending from both its thorax and tail shield, characteristics defining its Lichida family lineage. These unique features make Comura specimens highly sought after by paleontologists and fo...
A Devonian cheirurid trilobite from Morocco, distinguished by segmented genal spines resembling a rattlesnake's rattle, earning it the popular name 'rattlesnake trilobite.'
John A. Long is an Australian paleontologist whose research focuses on fossil fishes and the early evolution of vertebrates. He was part of the team that described Materpiscis attenboroughi, a Devonian placoderm fossil preserving an embryo and an associated mineralized umbilical structure, providing...
Gunnar Säve-Söderbergh was a Swedish paleontologist and geologist known for his research on early vertebrates. He led several significant fossil expeditions to East Greenland during the 1930s, where he discovered and described Ichthyostega. This Devonian-era animal is recognized as one of the earlie...
Cladoselache is an extinct genus of shark-like cartilaginous fish from the Late Devonian, known especially from well-preserved fossils found in Ohio. It had a streamlined body, paired fins, multiple gill slits, and two dorsal fins, but lacked several features characteristic of many later sharks. Pre...
Lioharpes is a genus of harpetid trilobites known from Devonian marine deposits. Like other members of its group, it had a broad cephalic brim marked by numerous small pits or perforations, while the central portion of the head was comparatively smooth. The biological function of the brim remains in...
Jenny Clack is a British paleontologist specializing in the study of Devonian fossils. Her research, particularly concerning *Acanthostega*, significantly advanced our knowledge of early tetrapod evolution. Clack’s work focuses on understanding the transition from aquatic to terrestrial lifeforms an...
Psychopyge represents a distinctive Devonian trilobite genus originating from Morocco. Its most notable feature is a markedly elongated, bifurcated rostrum extending from its cephalon – a morphology rarely observed in phacopida. These fossils are valuable for paleontologists studying the evolution a...
A Devonian trilobite distinguished by an exceptionally wide, semicircular pygidium giving the body a fan-like outline, found across Devonian deposits in Europe and North Africa.
