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Post by Joe Botting on Jun 24, 2005 6:13:21 GMT -5
On the back of the slab with Selkirkia, believe it or not, is something else of a fair bit of interest. It's a small, poorly-preserved cephalon ('head') of a trilobite, which isn't all that unusual in itself. However, this one is succeeding in completely baffling us. We don't even know which group to start looking in! Any thoughts, ideas or comments? Thanks, Joe It's down as 'trilobite indet. sp. A' in: www.asoldasthehills.org/Trilobites.html |
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Post by Joe Botting on Jun 27, 2005 7:01:07 GMT -5
We've had a suggestion - apparently Peter Sheldon once found a single harpid* cephalon at a similar level, and this looks somewhat similar. If so, then the characteristic fringe would have to have been lost or absent, but that's possible since it's more fragile than that of a trinucleid. The genal areas are also unusually flat for a harpid, so it may not be quite right - but it's a good start to work on, so thanks, Peter! *Harpids are an unusual group of trilobites that have an expanded, horsehoe-shaped flange running around the front of the skeleton, often pitted. It's similar to that of trinucleids, but wider and longer - and equally obscure in its function. There's a good example on www.peripatus.gen.nz/Taxa/Arthropoda/Trilobita/TriSys.htmlThey're generally an uncommon group, and rather intriguing because of their bizarre morphology. |
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Post by Joe Botting on Feb 26, 2006 5:37:02 GMT -5
Found something more convincing as an identity... Kennedy (1989) described Dionide from South Wales, based on a few specimens. Although the ornament on the anterolateral areas is a bit different (it's typically more pitted than ridged), the rest is practically identical.
I reckon that it's at least a good candidate, but we need better specimens to be sure.
Joe
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