A long-snouted late Eifelian arthrodire from Aragon (Spain)

Abstract

Carolowilhelmina geognostica Carls, 1995 is a large arthrodire (Placodermi) from the Tortodus kockelianus Conodont Zone, late Eifelian, in the Eastern Iberian Cordillera in southern Aragón. The somewhat incomplete but articulated skull is preserved, showing a long tubular rostral plate, very small postnasal plates, low toothless inferognathals, and a small, slender and flat parasphenoid. Supraorbital and central sensory lines meet their antimeres at the midline of the skull, forming a straight double line. Lines along the ventral surface of the rostral plate probably belong to the suborbital branches of the infraorbital sensory lines. The combination of characters of Carolowilhelmina points to a separate taxonomic position of suprageneric rank. The specimen is from a pumilio bed of the unit E of the Moyuela Formation. It lived in pelagic environment with floats of algae bearing epiplankton.