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Climatius
fossil spiny shark genus
Climatius, genus of extinct, primitive jawed vertebrates common as fossils in Devonian rocks in Europe and North America (the Devonian period began 408 million years ago and ended about 360 million years ago). Climatius is representative of the acanthodians, spiny fishlike vertebrates related to the true “bony” fishes and their relatives from class Osteichthyes. Acanthodians are characterized by diamond-shaped scales and fins that possessed a strong bony spine at their leading edges. Climatius had two dorsal fins and numerous paired ventral fins, each with a supporting spine.
This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.
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