Phytophilaspis

Phytophilaspis
Temporal range: Lower Cambrian
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subclass: Conciliterga
Genus: Phytophilaspis
Ivantsov, 1999[1]
Species
  • P. pergamena Ivantsov, 1999

Phytophilaspis is a phosphatized[2] genus of trilobite-like arthropod with eyes, found in association with algal remains.[1] It dwelt in well-lit, shallow waters.[3]

Description

Phytophilaspis has several features in common with trilobites, including: tripartite division of the dorsal shield; presence of prominent pygidium; large eyes, situated on the pleural area of the cephalon; facial sutures, and shape of the hypostome. However, it differs from trilobites in many ways, including a reduced thorax, thoracic pleura fused to each other and to the cephalon and pygidium, facial sutures not crossing the eyes, and weak original mineralization of the cuticle.[1] Because of these differences, Phytophilaspis was originally assigned to the Artiopodan subclass Concilliterga, in an undetermined order and family.[1] It was later considered by Bergström and Hou as a xandarellid, along with Cindarella, Xandarella and Sinoburius.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ivantsov, A. Yu. (1999). "Trilobite-like arthropod from the Lower Cambrian of the Siberian Platform" (PDF). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 44 (4): 455–466.
  2. ↑ Lin, J. ‐P.; Ivantsov, A. Y. U.; Briggs, D. E. G. (2010). "The cuticle of the enigmatic arthropod Phytophilaspis and biomineralization in Cambrian arthropods". Lethaia. 44 (3): 344. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.2010.00245.x.
  3. ↑ "Articulated palaeoscolecid sclerite arrays from the Lower Cambrian of eastern Siberia" (PDF). Acta Geologica Polonica. 54 (1): 1–2. 2004.
  4. ↑ Bergström, J., & Hou, X. G. (2003). "Arthropod origins" (PDF). Bulletin of Geosciences. 78 (4): 323–334.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/4/2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.