Brachydeiroidea
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Brachydeirus grandis.jpg
| image_caption = Restoration of B. grandis
| fossil_range = Middle to Late Frasnian
| taxon = Brachydeiroidea
| authority = Denison, 1978
| type_species = Brachydeirus carinatus
| type_species_authority = Gross, 1932
| subdivision_ranks = Families
| subdivision =
}}
Brachydeiroidea is a superfamily of small to moderately large-sized arthrodire placoderms from the Late Devonian of Europe and Eastern North America.
Brachydeiroids have, in cross section, a highly compressed body, a pointed, sometimes highly elongated snout, and tremendous orbits.{{cite book|last=Denison|first=Robert|title=Handbook of Paleoichthyology, Volume 2, Placodermi|year=1978|publisher=Gustav Fischer Verlage|location=New York|isbn=9780895740274|pages=73}} The plates of the trunk shield are noticeably shortened: in Synauchenia, the trunk shield and head shield are fused together as a single, immovable unit.{{cite book|last=Denison|first=Robert|title=Handbook of Paleoichthyology, Volume 2, Placodermi|year=1978|publisher=Gustav Fischer Verlage|location=New York|isbn=9780895740274|pages=74}} The superficial anatomy of brachydeiroids is extremely diverse.
Families
=Brachydeiridae=
A diverse family of variable forms, restricted to the middle to late Frasnian of Europe.
=Leptosteidae=
This family is represented by two species in the genus Leptosteus. Leptosteids differ from brachydeirids by having comparatively smaller orbits and more elongated trunk shields.
See also
{{Portal|Paleontology}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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