A new species of the antiarch Microbrachius from the Middle Devonian (Givetian) of Estonia

A new species of antiarch fish (Placodermi) Microbrachius longi sp. nov. is described from the Givetian (Middle Devonian) of Essi Farm in Estonia. The species consists of disarticulated plates that are suitably well preserved to distinguish the species from other species of Microbrachius. Characteristics include the large orbits and short cranium anterior of these orbits. The articulation structures for the pectorals is well preserved on the anterior ventrolateral plate allowing for its detailed description for the first time in this genus. This species also has reproductive claspers that show it reproduced by internal copulation. The species is compared with the type species Microbrachius dicki where a possible tail is described for the first time in this genus. The presence of Microbrachius in Estonia, Belarus, and Scotland adds to evidence of the interconnection between numerous locations in the Middle Devonian of Laurussia as demonstrated by numerous co-specific genera and species between these locations