Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 11, 2026

Coccosteomorphi

Coccosteomorphi is an extinct clade of arthrodire placoderms within the Eubrachythoraci, armored fish most diverse during the Devonian. Most are considered to be pelagic long-distance swimmers, leading to their widespread distribution beginning from at least the Middle Devonian period.

Last revised
Jun 11, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
337 w
Citations
3
Source
Coccosteomorphi
Temporal range:
Artist's reconstruction of Coccosteus cuspidatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Placodermi
Order: Arthrodira
Suborder: Brachythoraci
Clade: Eubrachythoraci
Clade: Coccosteomorphi
Stensiö, 1944
Sub-Clades

Coccosteomorphi is an extinct clade of arthrodire placoderms within the Eubrachythoraci (of the suborder Brachythoraci), armored fish most diverse during the Devonian. Most are considered to be pelagic (open ocean) long-distance swimmers, leading to their widespread distribution beginning from at least the Middle Devonian period.1

Phylogeny

Coccosteomorphi is the sister taxon to Pachyosteomorphi, which together are the two main sub-clades of Eubrachythoraci.2 Coccosteomorphi can be further sub-divided into Coccosteoidea and Incisoscutoidea, as shown in the cladogram below:3

References

References