Coccosteus

/kɒkəˈstiːəs/ noun

Definition

A genus of extinct armored fish from the Devonian period, roughly 400 million years ago, with extensive bone plating on the head and thorax.

Etymology

From Greek kokkos (berry) plus osteon (bone), literally 'berry-bone,' likely referring to rounded or berry-shaped bone structures on these ancient fish.

Kelly Says

Coccosteus was as long as a person is tall but had a bite powerful enough to shear through the armor of rival fish—it was a evolutionary arms race preserved in stone!

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