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The First Vertebrates, Jawless Fishes, the Agnathans

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The Vertebrate Integument Volume 1

Abstract

Vertebrates arose over 500 million years ago (MYA) but traces of their appearance only occur during the Ordovician period about 460 MYA. These primeval, small fish-like vertebrates are popularly known as the ostracoderms and during the 100 million years of their existence they were comprised of about 600 species. Ostracoderms are especially important in the history and evolution of vertebrates.

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Author notes

  1. Theagarten Lingham-Soliar

    Present address: Environmental Sciences, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

    Theagarten Lingham-Soliar

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  1. Theagarten Lingham-Soliar
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Correspondence to Theagarten Lingham-Soliar .

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Lingham-Soliar, T. (2014). The First Vertebrates, Jawless Fishes, the Agnathans. In: The Vertebrate Integument Volume 1. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-53748-6_2

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