👉 Cephalolepis, also known as a cephalopod, is an extinct class of marine animals that lived during the Paleozoic era (about 530 million to about 420 million years ago). They were characterized by their unique shell-like body and the ability to breathe through gills. Cephalolepis are now considered extinct due to their lack of a fossil record, but they have been studied for their unique adaptations and remains that can be found in