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Tristichopterids (Tristichopteridae), are a diverse and successful group of tetrapodomorph fishes throughout the Late Devonian stage. They first appeared in the Givetian epoch of the Middle Devonian stage. The Tristichopterids share almost all of the characteristics of the Elpistostegalians - the ancestors of tetrapods. The Tristichopterids were small - medium sized fishes. But some, like Hyneria had a length of almost 21 feet (over 6 meters), the size of a large Great White Shark. Most Tristichopterids were great predators. Most Tristichopterids can crawl on land for a short time with their strong fins, to catch their land-living prey. Eusthenopteron is a renowned Tristichopterid. Most Tristichopterids went extinct by the end of Late Devonian. Although some species made it to the early stages of Mississippian of the Carboniferous, they didn't make it through the rest of Mississippian period.
[edit] Genera of Tristichopterids
- Devonosteus
- Cabonnichthys
- Eusthenodon
- Eusthenopteron
- Hyneria
- Jarvikina
- Litoptychius
- Mandageria
- Marsdenichthys
- Notorhizodon
- Platycephalichthys
- Tristichopterus
