Daniel GOUJET

Facial anatomy differs fundamentally between extant jawless and jawed vertebrates (cyclostomes and gnathostomes). Cyclostomes have a median nasohypophysial duct; gnathostomes have separate nasal sacs opening externally, and a palatal hypophysis. Premandibular crest cells migrate forwards either side of the nasohypophysial placode to form the upper lip in cyclostomes, but between the hypophysial and nasal placodes to form the trabecular region in gnathostomes 1, 2. Supraoptic neural crest remains posterior to ...

Most features are properly preserved and most of the missing structures can be virtually rebuilt by symmetry. Another advantage of this virtual approach is the possibility of connecting with certainty all the external foramina to the blood and nerve canals and the central/internal structures, and hence to identify accurate homologies without destroying the specimen. Ørvig's original assumptions can now be checked with confidence. ... The vasculature of the dermal bones, rendered in detail, allowed a better understanding of plate growth. It permits the visualization of ...

For the first time, dipnoan remains are described from the Devonian of Spitsbergen. According to the stratigraphy and the
associated vertebrate fauna, they are considered as Late Emsian–Early Eifelian in age. Unfortunately remains are too sketchy and non-diagnostic to be referred or compared to a known Devonian dipnoan. This new material, determined as Dipnoi gen. et sp. indet., is nevertheless important in biostratigraphical and palaeobiogeographical points of view, since it is amongst the earliest dipnoan occurrences, and the first one in the Devonian of Spitsbergen.

Three chondrichthyan radiations are registered in the Famennian of the Ardenne Massif (Belgium). These radiations are already observed in Morocco and in the Carnic Alps, their acme being related with the early expansa transgression. Comparisons of univariate statistical descriptors like Margalef richness and Shannon-Wiener diversity index show variations between both margins of the Paleotethys, variations interpreted in terms of trophic relationships. The Ardenne area, a northern shallow carbonate platform is characterized during the Famennian by endemic shark taxa with durophagous dentition. The southern open deep-sea area, the Variscan Sea, contains large placoderms probably disclosing a negative feedback on “cladodont” chondrichthyans. This supports the hypothesis that the Armorica platelet behaved like a barrier between the central southern Laurussia and northern Gondwana.

The Placodermi (armored jawed fishes), which appeared during the Lower Silurian and disappeared without leading any descendants at the end of the Famennian (Latest Devonian), have the highest diversity of known Devonian vertebrate groups. As phylogenetically basal gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates), they are potentially informative about primitive jawed vertebrate anatomy and origins. Until recently, the study of their internal or histological structures has required destructive methods such as sectioning or serial grinding. Recent advances in tomography and imaging technologies, especially through the increasing use of synchrotron phase contrast imaging for the study of fossils, allow us to reveal the inner structures of the fossil nondestructively and with unprecedented three-dimensional level of detail. Here, we present for the first time the prerostral anatomy of the small acanthothoracid Romundina stellina, one of the earliest and most basal placoderms. Phase contrast imaging allows us to reconstruct the vascularization and nerve canals of the premedian plate and adjacent parts of the skeleton three-dimensionally in great detail, providing important clues to the growth modes and biology of the animal.

A new genus of ‘actinolepid’ arthrodire placoderm, Erikaspis, is named to contain “Kujdanowiaspis” zychi Stensiö, 1945, from the Lochkovian–Pragian deposits (Lower Devonian) of Podolia (Ukraine). This new genus occurs together with the genus Kujdanowiaspis Stensiö, 1942, to which its type species was previously assigned. Distinctive ornamentation and pattern of dermal plates justify this new assignment. A phylogenetic analysis places Erikaspis, gen. nov., as a close relative of Kujdanowiaspis and of the contemporaneous species Sigaspis lepidophora Goujet, 1973, from Spitsbergen, all of them belonging to the family Kujdanowiaspididae Berg, 1955.

The Placodermi (armored jawed fishes), which appeared during the Lower Silurian and disappeared without leading any descendants at the end of the Famennian (Latest Devonian), have the highest diversity of known Devonian vertebrate groups. As phylogenetically basal gnathostomes ( ...

The acanthothoracid placoderms are among the most phylogenetically basal and morphologically primitive gnathostomes. However, their endocranial anatomy is not well understood; only one genus, Brindabellaspis, has been described in detail. Here we present a near-complete three-dimensional skull of Romundina stellina, a small Early Devonian acanthothoracid from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, scanned at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France, at a 7.45 µm resolution using ...

Dupret, V., S. Sanchez, D. Goujet, P. Tafforeau, and P. Ahlberg. 2012: Structures intra-crâniennes de Romundina stellina Ørvig 1975 (Vertebrata, Placodermi, Acanthothoraci) révélé par tomographie synchrotron en contraste de phase. Vème Rencontres de l'Ichtyologie en France, Paris, France, 2012.


"Les placodermes acanthothoracides sont parmi les vertébrés gnathostomes les plus basaux phylogénetiquement et morphologiquement. Néanmoins, une bonne connaissance anatomie crânienne fait défaut, et à ce jour un seul genre (Brindabellaspis) a été décrit en détails. Nous présentons le modèle en 3 dimensions d’un crâne presque complet de Romundina stellina, un petit acanthothoracide du Dévonien inférieur de l’Archipel Arctique Canadien, décrit originellement par Ørvig (1975). Le spécimen a été microtomographié sur la ligne de faisceau ID 19 de l’ESRF de Grenoble (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility), en protocole de contraste de phase, avec un voxel isotrope de 7,45 micromètres.
Malgré une cassure oblique, la plupart des structures peuvent être reconstruites par symétrie. Chaque nerf crânien peut être suivi entre la cavité encéphalique et les murs du neurocrâne composés d’os périchondral. Il en est de même pour les vaisseaux sanguins. La détermination des homologies en est donc facilitée, tout en assurant la non destruction du spécimen. Les hypothèses d’homologies formulées par Ørvig peuvent être traitées en toute confidence.
La couche d’os périchondrale entourant la cavité encéphalique n’est pas homogène mais présente un aspect en dentelle entre les nerfs trijumeaux (V) et vague (X) ; il en est de même pour les oreilles internes, dont les canaux semi-circulaires ne sont pas ossifiés du tout latéralement et dorsalement. Cet aspect en dentelle n’est ni un artefact de fossilisation, de préservation ou de modélisation, et n’a jamais été retrouvé sur aucun autre vertébré (mais l’échantillonnage à cette résolution fait encore cruellement défaut).
Les canalicules nerveux reliés aux neuromastes de la ligne latérale permettent de retracer leur origine à une branche du nerf facial (VII). Les deux oreilles internes ont été reconstruites avec précision et montrent une morphologie primitive.
Le réseau vasculaire de l’os dermique a été reconstruit en détails, et permet de mettre en évidence les limites de plaques du toit crânien, invisibles autrement. Ce réseau vasculaire est relié à des veines drainant la bordure de la boîte crânienne ou à une branche de la veine jugulaire. La courbure de ces vaisseaux autour de l’oreille interne pourrait démarquer la limite entre la capsule otique et l’arc hyoïdien qui s’y attachait.
D’un point de vue général, la morphologie de la boîte crânienne et de ses structures associées paraît moins primitive (et moins extrême) que celle de Brindabellaspis, mais rappelle au contraire plus les structures observées chez le placoderme arthrodire Kujdanowiaspis, plus dérivé.
Ces différences mettent en lumière les premiers stades de l’évolution du crâne des placodermes, donc des gnathostomes. "

"Dupret, V., S. Sanchez, D. Goujet, P. Tafforeau, and P. Ahlberg. 2012: Dans la peau de Romundina stellina Ørvig, 1975 (Vertebrata, Placodermi, Acanthothoraci): Anatomie crânienne d'un des premiers gnathostomes révélée par tomographie synchrotron en contraste de phase - Being Romundina stellina Ørvig, 1975 (Vertebrate, Placodermi, Acanthothoraci): Intracranial anatomy of one of the deepest gnathostomes revealed by synchrotron tomograpy in phase contrast protocole. Quatrième Symposium "Georges Cuvier": Fossiles, Evolution, Mouvement, Montbéliard, France, 2012.
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Dupret, V., S. Sanchez, D. Goujet, P. Tafforeau, and P. Ahlberg. 2010: The cranial anatomy of Romundina stellina Ørvig, 1975 (Vertebrata, Placodermi, Acanthothoraci) revealed by phase contrast synchrotron scanning 3rd International Palaeontological Congress, London, U.K., 2010.


The acanthothoracid placoderms are among the most phylogenetically basal and morphologically primitive gnathostomes. However, their endocranial anatomy is not well understood; only one genus, Brindabellaspis, has been described in detail. Here we present a near-complete three-dimensional skull of Romundina stellina, a small Early Devonian acanthothoracid from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, scanned at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France, at a 7.45 µm resolution. Despite some loss of material along an oblique crack, most of the internal structures are remarkably preserved. Each postethmoid cranial and craniospinal nerve can be followed between the well-preserved endocranial cavity and the walls of the perichondrally ossified neurocranium. The minute nerve canals that supplied the neuromast organs of the sensory line system are preserved and can in the postorbital area be traced directly to a branch of the facial nerve. Both inner ears are present. The vascular mesh of the dermal bones has been reconstructed in detail, rendering visible the dermal plate boundaries of the skull roof, and is shown to connect to larger internal veins that drain to the edge of the braincase or into the jugular vein canal. The curvature of the latter vessels parallels the outer surface of the inner ear and may demarcate the boundary between otic capsule proper and applied hyoid arch material. Overall, the braincase morphology appears less extreme (and less primitive?) than that of Brindabellaspis, in some respects more reminiscent of a primitive arthrodire such as Kujdanowiaspis. These differences may illuminate the earliest stages of placoderm cranial evolution.