The big winners of the Devonian period were various fish. The first fish fossils date back to the Ordovician but the actual golden age of fish was during the Devonian period. First fishes were small, jawless and finless. In the end of Ordovician period some species of fish evolved jaws. The Devonian period saw the development of sturdy fins in various fish. These increased the efficiency of swimming and hunting. Soon most of the more primitive fishes were displaced by more advanced jawed and finned fishes.
The picture shows fossilised Dapedium, which is a bony fish as are most of modern fishes. Bony fishes have ruled earth's waters since Devonian period!
[ To the front page | end page ] Picture: Mikko Heikkinen
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