Craniata
Craniata (sometimes Craniota) is a proposed clade of chordate animals that contains the vertebrates (subphylum Vertebrata) and Myxini (hagfish) as living representatives. Craniata includes all animals with a skull, or cranium, as the name suggests.
Craniata Temporal range: Early Cambrian - Recent
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Pacific hagfish resting on bottom down off Oregon coast. | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
(unranked): | Craniata Janvier 1981
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Subphyla | |
Cephalaspidomorphi (disputed) |
These two taxa lack proper vertebrae, which are characteristic for vertebrates according to the new interpretation, whereas traditionally—and confusingly—they were not (Hickman et al., 2007).
Wikispecies has information on: Craniata. |
Craniata Media
Craniata, including this placoderm fish (Dunkleosteus sp.), are characterized by the presence of a cranium, mandible, and other facial bones.
Astraspis desiderata. Astraspids are still poorly known but recent discoveries of partially complete specimens of Astraspis desiderata, from the Ordovician of Colorado, have considerably increased their knowledge. Their dorsal headshield is made up by large, polygonal bone units and the gill openings are situated more dorsally than in arandaspids.