Yiminaspis is an extinct monospecific genus of primitive arthrodire placoderm fish from Emsian-aged marine strata in Yunnan, China. The type species Yiminaspis shenme was named and described in 2008, and is known from a flattened partial skull and portions of the thoracic armor.

Etymology

The genus name translates as "Yi People's shield", deriving from the Chinese name Yímín (simplified Chinese: 彝民; traditional Chinese: 彞民; lit. 'Yi People', an ethnic group in China, Vietnam, and Thailand) and the Greek word aspis ("a type of round shield"). The specific name is from Chinese shénme (simplified Chinese: 什么; traditional Chinese: 什麼; lit. 'what'), as in "what is it?" reference to the peculiar anatomy of this prehistoric fish.[1]

Classification

Yiminaspis belongs to the family Wuttagoonaspidae, and is closely related to Wuttagoonaspis. It is one of the more basal members of the order Arthrodira, as shown in the cladogram below:[2]

Lunaspis broilii

Eurycaraspis incilis

Arthrodira
Actinolepidoidei
Phlyctaeniina

References

  1. ^ Dupret, Vincent (Mar 12, 2008). "A New Wuttagoonaspid (Placodermi, Arthrodira) from the Lower Devonian of Yunnan (South China): Origin, Dispersal, and Paleobiogeographic Significance". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 28: 12–20. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2008)28[12:anwpaf]2.0.co;2.
  2. ^ Dupret, V.; Zhu, M. I. N.; Wang, J. N. Q. (2009). "The morphology of Yujiangolepis liujingensis (Placodermi, Arthrodira) from the Pragian of Guangxi (south China) and its phylogenetic significance". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 157: 70. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00519.x.