-TRILOBITE SPECIES- |
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TRILOBITA-
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Click here for more images of trilobites listed above. |
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-Species Descriptions- |
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Achatella achates (Billings, 1860) - Description from Delo, 1940, and Whiteley et al., 2002 Dalmanites achates Billings, 1860, p. 63, fig. 9; Clarke, 1894, p. 726, fig. 44; Foerste, 1919, p. 397, figs. 8, 18a. Description: Family Pterygometopidae. The cephalon, compared to the rest of the body, is large. The frontal margin is very broadly and regularly rounded. The antero-lateral curve is abrupt. The genal spines are very long and slender, extending almost to the end of the thorax. The eyes are elevated high on the cephalon and are schizochroal. The occipital ring is elevated into a short blunt spinose tubercle. The surface of the cephalon is covered with tubercles, the largest of which are found on the glabella. The axial lobe is prominent on the thorax and covered with granules. The pygidium is depressed and narrowly triangular, with an axial lobe that extends to the posterior border. There are nine or ten axial annulations and eight or nine wide, furrowed ribs on the pygidium. The body tapers toward the rear, ending with a pointed termination on the pygidium.
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MCZ 111713: Hypotype, 20mm long |
MCZ 145732: 27mm long |
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| Amphilicas conifrons Ruedemann, 1916
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Description from Ruedemann, 1916
Platynotus trentonensis Hall, 1847, p. 235, pl. 64, fig. 1c. Description: Family Lichidae. The glabella is convex and broadly trapezoidal in outline. It is about twice as broad as long and projects medially. The median lobe is also trapezoidal in outline and its posterior margin is about twice as long as the frontal margin. This lobe is very prominent, ends a little forward of the middle, and bends sharply downward in front. The first pair of glabellar furrows are sigmoidal (curving in then out), narrow, but fairly deep, with the posterior portion more strongly curved and extending into the occipital furrow. The first lateral lobe is subquadrangular, wider in the front, and sloping fairly evenly and laterally with the greater portion bent forward. The second lobe is but a narrow strip, apparently broadening at the anterior extremity. The second glabellar furrow is also bent slightly sigmoidal and shallower than the first. The occipital furrow is narrow, nearly straight in the middle and curving abruptly forward at the ends. The surface of the glabella is furnished with small tubercles and bases of spines which are largest at the apex of the middle lobe. Pygidium is semielliptic in outline and a little contracted in front. The axial lobe is broad and prominent in its anterior half, but contracted, tapering, and flat in its posterior half. It bulges in the middle where the contraction of the margins begins. The pleurae are nearly flat, sloping slightly from axial furrow; they are hooklike, backwardly curving, and terminate in rather blunt lobes. The surface is ornamented with small tubercles and bears the bases of many spines which are especially large in the last pair of pleurae.
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MCZ 112864: Hypotype, 42.5mm long |
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| Amphilicas cornutus (Clarke, 1894) – Description from Brett et al., 1999 and Clarke 1894
Conolichas cornutus Clarke, 1894, p. 749, figs. 72, 73. Description: Family Lichidae. Cephalic features of Amphilicas cornutus have not been described with confidence due to damage suffered by the holotype specimen during preparation. Little can be discerned from the specimen except that it has a high, conical shape and a glabella of uniform width in the latter third of its length, narrowing at the composite lateral lobe. The thorax is subquadrate and narrows posteriorly. The axial lobe is broad, comprising one-third the width of the thorax in the anterior segments and becoming narrower at the posterior end. The axial lobe is also regularly convex and bordered by axial furrows which are broad and shallow. The pleurae are flat for about one-third of their width, the outer portion being evenly deflected. The segments are broad, recurved and tapering to acute terminations. The pygidium is comparatively large and is comprised of three lobes. These lobes are pleurae like in that they are broad, gently convex, and have pleural grooves that are narrow and sharply incised. Adjacent pleurae are connected for more than half their length. The first pair are elongate leaf shapes that are posteriorly curved. The posterior pair are rhombiform and also curve slightly towards the axis. There is a very prominent axial lobe that tapers to a blunt protuberance a third of the way down the pygidium. The surface of the exoskeleton is covered with fine to coarse tubercles or pustules.
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MCZ 112863: Hypotype |
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Posterior view: 35mm long |
Anterior view: 31mm wide |
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Description: No description available; possibly an invalid species name.
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MCZ 145733: 25mm wide |
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| Bumastoides holei (Foerste, 1920) - Description from Raymond, 1925 and Whiteley et al., 2002
Bumastus holei Foerste, 1920, p. 214, pl. 21, fig. 15a, 15b, pl. 22, figs. 15a, 15b; Raymond, 1925, p. 116, pl. 8, figs. 5, 6. Description: Family Illaenidae. The cephalon is much larger than the pygidium and is evenly convex, with a slight longitudinal median depression. The only evidence of axial furrows on the cephalon is from two large depressed lunettes next to the eyes. The eyes themselves are small, spaced wide apart, and close to the posterior margin. The free cheeks are small and so nearly vertical in position as to be hardly visible from above. The thorax contains ten segments. There is a wide axial lobe and shallow axial furrows. The pygidium is about four fifths as long as wide, evenly convex, and has no trace of an axial lobe. The entire exoskeleton is granulose with corresponding pits on the internal cast. These pits have not been seen on specimens from locations other than the Walcott-Rust Quarry.
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MCZ 101148: Hypotype, 36.5mm long |
MCZ 144798: Hypotype, 54mm long |
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?Bumastoides milleri (Billings, 1859) - Description from Billings, 1859 and Whiteley et al., 2002 Illaenus milleri Billings, 1859, p. 375, fig. 10; Whiteley et al., 2002, p. 121, pl. 6. Description: Family Illaeninae. Description condensed from Billings' observations of holotype (not pictured here). Bumastoides milleri is shaped like an oblong oval and the surface is smooth. This trilobite is also vaguely trilobed, with only very faint depressions along either side of the thorax and two small indentations on the cephalon which mark the axial furrows. The cephalon is transversely semioval and evenly convex. The front half is abruptly elevated and more depressed behind. The eyes of B. milleri are fairly large, lunate, and spaced widely apart. The cheeks are rather small, with the facial suture cutting the front margin a little within the parallel of the eye and the posterior margin just behind the outside of the eye. The thorax contains nine thoracic segments, the pleurae of which bend slightly back just beyond the axial furrow. The pygidium slightly longer than the thorax, and is transversely broad oval shaped. Since identification is questionable B. milleri may be a synonym for B. porrectus.
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MCZ 145734: 13mm wide |
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| Bumastoides porrectus (Raymond, 1925) - Description from Raymond, 1925
Bumastus porrectus Raymond, 1925, p. 114, pl. 8, figs. 7, 8; Wilson, 1947, p. 35, pl. 7, figs. 7-9. Description: Family Illaenidae. The entire animal is about one half longer than wide and slender. The cephalon is somewhat plumper than one quarter of a sphere, evenly convex, and the vestiges of axial furrows are seen in very faintly visible traces of lunettes. The small eyes are situated back and far apart. The free cheeks are small and so nearly vertical in position that they are concealed by the eyes when viewed from above. The thorax is made up of ten segments and is evenly convex. There is a very wide axial lobe which is bounded by shallow axial furrows. The pygidium is short, smooth, and evenly convex, without any trace of an axial lobe. The surface of the entire test is smooth, the only ornamentation being faint concentric wrinkles on the anterior margins of both the cephalon and the pygidium.
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MCZ 101147: Holotype, 23mm long |
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| Calyptaulax callicephalus (Hall, 1847) - Description from Delo, 1940
Phacops callicephalus Hall, 1847, p. 247, pl. 65, figs. 3a-i. Description: Family Pterygometopidae. The cephalon of Calyptaulax callicephalus is almost twice as wide as it is long and it comes to a blunt point in front. The eyes are large and attain a glabellar surface. The frontal lobe on the cephalon is almost twice as wide as long. The third lobe rises in the middle to the glabellar surface. The occipital lobe is long and very broadly convex backward. The first lateral furrows are straight; the occipital furrow is of moderate depth, the anterior slope is the steeper and shorter. Ornamentation consists of thickly distributed tubercules on the glabellar and occipital lobes. The cheek fields are covered with tubercules between the eye and the genal angle, with a row of tuburcules continuing forward below the base of the eye. The axial lobe along the thorax is prominent, of uniform width, with each annulation thickly and coarsely tuberculated. The pleurae are finely pebbled. The pygidium is broadly triangular posteriorly, with a length that is two thirds the width. The axial lobe is prominent and narrow, tapering more sharply in the anterior half than in the posterior, where the axial furrows are almost parallel. There are six pairs of furrowed ribs and a very short single one parallel to the axial terminus.
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MCZ 110903: Hypotype, 24mm long |
MCZ 143758: Hypotype, 20mm long |
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| Ceraurus pleurexanthemus Green, 1832- Description from Raymond and Barton, 1913, Brett et al., 1999, and Whiteley et al., 2002. Ecology from Whittington, 1941.
Ceraurus pleurexanthemus Green, 1832, p. 84, 5, fig. 10; Raymond and Barton, 1913, p. 528, pl. 1, fig. 1, pl. 2, figs. 1, 2, 7; Evit, 1953, p. 33, pl. 7, figs. 1, 2, pl. 8, figs. 5-7; Whittington, 1941, p. 492-522; Brett et al., 1999, p. 300, figs. 8.3, 8.5, 8.7; Whiteley et al., 2002, p. 134, pl. 76, 77, 78. Description: Family Cheiruridae. Ceraurus pleurexanthemus is a common and widely distributed trilobite of Middle Ordovician, Trenton age rocks in central New York. The distinctive cephalon with its long divergent genal spines and the two long marginal pygidial spines make it easy to identify. The cephalon is broad, roughly semi-circular in outline, and short compared to width. The glabella is very convex and expands forward, reaching the frontal margin. The front of the glabella is nearly square, being but slightly curved. There are three pairs of glabellar furrows; the first two pairs are short, while the third pair are stronger, and turn abruptly back to join the neck furrow, thus isolating a pair of small, nearly square lobes at the base of the glabella. The other furrows are deep at their junction with the axial furrows, and thus form small, node-like side lobes. The fixed cheeks are convex, highest at the eye, and bear the long flared genal spines. The free cheeks are small, sutures reaching the anterior margin at points just posterior to the eyes. The eyes are small, minutely faceted, high, and prominent. They are situated far forward on the cheeks, and a little nearer to the glabella than to the posterior margin of the cephalon. The surface of the glabella, barring the genal spines, is covered with pits and tubercles of various sizes. On the glabella, aside from those irregularly spaced, there are two rows of coarse tubercles in rough alignment. There is also a pair of coarse tubercles aligned on each cheek. The thorax contains eleven segments. The pleural lobes are divided into an inner, nodose portion, and an outer portion consisting of the free points of the pleura. The pygidium is small and short, made up of four distinct areas, the first ends in very long, curved, divergent spines. The part of the pygidium within the two spines is rounded in outline, occasionally exhibiting very short spines on the remaining segments. Ecology: C. pleurexanthemus is most common in deep shelf facies. The spines on the pygidium and the position of the hypostoma, as discussed by Whittington (1941), prevented it from enrolling into a close-fitting ball. Presumably their spines protected them when they clung fast to the floor of the sea. It has been suggested that the power of enrollment would presumably be valuable, if they were attacked while swimming, to enable them to close up and sink rapidly to the protection of the sea floor.
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MCZ 111708 and MCZ 111715: Hypotypes, 44mm long and 42mm long |
MCZ 145725: the larger is 46mm long
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| Reconstruction of C. pleurexanthemus from
Harrington, 1959 |
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| Cryptolithus tessellatus (Green, 1832) – Description from Whiteley et al., 2002. Ecology from Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, O (Arthropoda 1 Trilobita, Revised), p. 145. Cryptolithus tessellatus Green, 1832a, p. 560, pl. 14, fig. 4; Whiteley et al., 2002, p. 163, pl. 166, 167, fig. 5.5B. Description: Family Trinucleidae. Considered an index fossil if the Sugar River Limestone of the Trenton Group by some authors but is not uniformly distributed. Whole specimens are rare. Although small, this trilobite has a distinctive and robust cephalon. The glabella is vaulted and smooth, with only two shallow pits anterior to the occipital ring for glabellar furrows. The cephalon is rounded in anterior outline and about twice as long as wide when including the long genal spines. The occipital ring has a central spine extending backward over the first few thoracic segments. Cryptolithus is a blind trilobite, lacking eyes on the cephalon. The thorax has six thoracic segments, and the pygidium is rounded, being much broader than it is long. The most characteristic feature of the trilobite is the anterior brim or fringe of the cephalon, which has uniform rows of pits following the curvature of the anterior edge. These pits, their number, and arrangement are major factors in distinguishing the various species. Shaw and Lespérance (1994) believe the method of determining species in this genus is incorrect stating:
Shaw and Lespérance instead choose to use morph designations for the different variants of pit placement. At this point in time it is still unclear which method is more effective. The thorax has six thoracic segments, and the pygidium is rounded, being much broader than it is long. Ecology: Campbell (1975) suggests that the mode of life for Cryptolithus was a benthic mud-feeder, able to dig down into the substrate, and with limited powers of walking and swimming. He argued that Cryptolithus had the ability to rapidly outroll the thorax and pygidium and that such an ability might have been used in swimming and righting the animal if it were rolled over. The animal would have rested partially buried in the substrate on the outer portion of the fringe and genal spines, the innermost rows of pits exposed above the sediment. Campbell argued that the fringe probably had a sensory function and that it contained a branching system of digestive glands.
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MCZ 143757: Hypotype, 16mm long |
Cephalon with reconstructed thorax and pygidium - MCZ 146480: 21.5mm wide |
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A reconstruction of C. tesselatus showing the ventral side and appendages from Raymond, 1920 |
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| Diacanthaspis parvula (Walcott, 1877) - Description from Whittington, 1941, Brett et al., 1999, and Whiteley et al., 2002. Ecology from Whittington, 1941.
Acidaspis parvula Walcott, 1877b, p. 16; Walcott, 1879, p. 69. Description of Genus: Family Odontopleuridae. Fairly uncommon. The glabella is slightly wider than it is long. There are two pairs of suboval lateral lobes, the posterior pair being the larger. The median lobe is wider than the lateral lobes. The occipital ring is long and has a very prominent pair of marginal spines. The occipital lobes are small and faint. The eyes of Diacanthaspis are situated near the back of the cheeks and closer to the axis of the cephalon. The facial sutures are not fused. The genal spines are curved, occurring at the posterolateral angle of the cephalon as a projection of the rolled margin of the free cheeks. The cephalon is ornamented with numerous short spines in symmetrical arrangement. On the thoracic segments there is a conspicuous pair of spines on the axial rings and various other short spines in symmetrical arrangement on the axial rings and pleurae. The pleurae have short marginal spines, which become long in the posterior segments. The pygidium is composed of three segments. There are twelve marginal spines of equal length, and other short spines on the axial and pleural lobes. Ecology: In the early developmental stages the exoskeleton is spiny. These growths usually become reduced in length and may become tubercles, or may even be lost, as the trilobite grows. The spines on the pygidium, as discussed by Whittington (1941), prevented it from enrolling into a close-fitting ball. Presumably their spines protected them when they clung fast to the floor of the sea. It has been suggested that the power of enrollment would presumably be valuable, if they were attacked while swimming, to enable them to close up and sink rapidly to the protection of the sea floor.
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MCZ 112862: Paratype, 9mm long |
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Flexicalymene senaria (Conrad, 1841) – Description from Whittington, 1941, Brett et al., 1999, and Whiteley et al., 2002. Ecology from Whittington, 1941. Calymene senaria Conrad, 1841, pp. 38, 49; Emmons, 1842, p. 390, fig. 2; Hall, 1847, p. 238, pl. 64, figs. 3a-n. Description: Family Calymenidae. The cephalon of Flexicalymene senaria is subsemicircular in outline, about twice as wide as long, and very strongly convex. The glabella is subtriangular in outline and has a rounded anterior end. It is convex, standing high above the cheek lobes, and reaches a little farther forward. There are three pairs of lateral glabellar lobes that are graduated in size. The pair nearest the occipital ring is large and the second and third pairs become consecutively smaller anteriorly. Lateral furrows are also deeper and more developed around the posterior lobes. The occipital furrow is deep, shallowing and swinging forward in a gentle curve axially. The fixed cheeks are strongly convex and the free cheeks are subtriangular in outline, descending in a steep convex slope to the thick, rolled margin. The eyes are positioned just opposite the second glabellar lobes with a ridge running from the palpebral lobes to the third glabellar lobes. The hypostome is subrectangular in outline. The cephalon has an ornamentation consisting of tubercles of various sizes that are most concentrated on the glabella, occipital ring, and area anterior to the eyes. The thorax has 13 segments. On these segments the axial ring is strongly convex, the pleurae widen laterally, and the extremities are rounded and without spines. In enrollment the lateral parts of the pleurae slide underneath those of the next anterior segment where processes on the frontal edge of the pleurae limit movement. The pleurae also lack facets. The axial lobe is covered with closely spaced medium-sized tubercles. The pygidium is subtriangular in outline and very strongly convex. It is composed of six conjoined segments and is covered by medium-sized, closely spaced tubercles. Ecology: Flexicalymene protected itself by enrollment where the margin of the pygidium and the lateral extremities of the bent-down pleurae fit inside the rolled anterior and lateral margin.
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MCZ 111710: Hypotype, 25mm long |
MCZ 145728: the larger is 34mm long |
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| Gabriceraurus dentatus (Raymond and Barton, 1913) - Description from DeMott, 1987, Brett et al., 1999, and Whiteley et al., 2002.
Ceraurus pleurexanthemus Green. Hall, 1847, pl. 65, figs. 1d, 1h, 1i, 1m, pl. 66, fig. 1a-1g; Brett et al., 1999, p. 300, fig. 8.3, 8.5, 8.7. Description: Family Cheiruridae. An unusually large species for this genus, Gabriceraurus dentatus is separated from the more common Ceraurus pleurexanthemus due to its larger size and eyes which are set further back on the cephalon. The glabella is broad, flat, moderately inflated to the rear, and very deflated in the frontal lobe. The glabella does not reach the frontal margin. Large and small pustules sprinkled with random distribution over all glabellar lobes. The occipital ring is broad and smooth. The cheeks, within smooth boarders, are covered with a random sprinkling of small pustules and pits. Pustules are thick in the area posterior and adaxial (the side nearest to the axis) from the eye, but no pair or cluster of pustules are outstanding in this region distinct from the rest of the cheek surfaces (unlike C. pleurexanthemus). The eyes are well back, opposite the back edge of the second posterior lobes and located well out on the cheeks. The eyes also stand as high or slightly higher than the glabella. The genal spines are stout, taper rapidly, and are elliptical in cross section near the base. The thorax, of about eleven segments, has pairs of very low pustules along its axis. The pygidium has four nested segments. The most anterior of which bears the flaring, lightly curved, pygidial spines. The second and third segments extend beyond the border in short, well developed, and sharp-pointed teeth. The fourth segment may bear a small tooth as well. Ecology: See Ceraurus pleurexanthemus.
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MCZ 111711: Hypotype, 32.5mm wide |
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| Hypodicranotus striatulus (Walcott, 1875) – Description from Whittington, 1952,Brett et al., 1999, and Whiteley et al., 2002. Ecology from Whittington, 1952.
Remopleurides striatulus Walcott, 1875b, p. 347, fig. 27A, a, b; Raymond, 1925, p. 57, pl. 3, figs. 4, 5. Description: Family Remopleurididae. The occipital ring is longitudinally flat, transversely moderately convex, bounded laterally by the posterior branches of the facial sutures, which are straight but run diagonally back from the posterior corner of the eye lobe, then curve to run into the posterior margin at right angles. Inside and parallel to the suture is a faint depression, the axial furrow, and just inside the point where the suture cuts the posterior margin is a rounded notch, the articulating socket. The occipital furrow is shallow. Between the eye lobes the glabella is gently and evenly convex both longitudinally and transversely. The eye lobe is long, in dorsal aspect curved, most strongly in the posterior part. The eye surface is gently convex transversely, and slopes steeply. The outer margin of the eye lobe is defined by a narrow, convex border which commences at the posterior corner and runs forwards to merge anteriorly with the border of the cheek. This species has long genal spines running parallel to spine like extensions of the occipital ring, giving the appearance of a dual genal spine. The hypostome is like no other. It is shaped like a tuning fork and extends to the end of the thorax. The thorax is moderately convex transversely, the axis broad, narrowing rapidly backwards. It seems to consist of eleven segments. A short spine is present on the eighth thoracic segment and the pygidium is very small, subrectangular, and looks to be notched. Ecology: The long hypostome of H. striatulus prevented enrollment, but did provide some protection for the ventral surface. If no movement was possible at the hypostomal suture, then the amount of possible movement of the thorax and pygidium in the vertical plane, relative to the cephalon, must have been severely limited. The mode of articulation of the thorax precludes any considerable movement relative to the cephalon in the horizontal plane. There is ample room for the appendages to project downwards and outwards between the hypostome and the thoracic pleurae. Its streamlined shape suggests this species may be pelagic (swimming) and its wide distribution implies this.
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MCZ 115910: Hypotype, 25.5mm long |
MCZ 100988: Paratype, 18mm long |
MCZ 100987: Paratype, 17mm long |
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| Isotelus gigas Dekay, 1824 - Description from Brett et al., 1999 and Rudkin and Tripp, 1989
Isotelus gigas Dekay 1824, p. 176, pl. 12, figs. 1, 2, pl. 13, fig. 1; Vanuxem, 1842, p. 47, fig. 1; Hall, 1847, p. 231, pl. 63, fig. 1; Raymond, 1910a, fig. 1; Raymond, 1914, p. 248, pl. 1, figs. 1, 2, pl. 2, figs. 2-5, pl. 3, fig. 3; Bassler, 1919, pl. 48, figs. 23-25; Raymond, 1920, p. 91, fig. 28; Foerste, 1924, p. 241, pl. 44, fig. 6; Whittington, 1950, pl. 73, figs. 1, 2, 4; Howell, 1951, p. 265, pl. 2, fig. 3; Jaanusson, 1959, figs. 251, 2a, b; Whittington, 1960, fig. 4b; Lu et al., 1965, p.123, pl. 28, figs. 2a, b (as Jaanusson, 1959); Darby and Stumm, 1965, pl. 1, fig. 7; Henningsmoen, 1975, fig. 13; Towe, 1973, p. 1008, figs. 1f, g, k, l; Levi-Setti, 1975, pl. 55; Teigler and Towe, 1975, pl. 1, figs. 1, 2, pl. 2, fig. 2, pl. 3, figs. 2, 5, pl. 7, figs. 1, 2; Ludvigsen, 1978, pl. 1, figs. 18, 19 [non fig. 17]; Ludvigsen, 1979a, figs. 24c, d; Ludvigsen, 1979b, figs. 6G, H, 12E-H DeMott, 1987, p. 71, pl. 3, figs. 1-11; Rudkin and Tripp, 1989, p. 5-10, figs. 1.1-1.6, 2.1-2.3; Brett et al., 1999, p. 297, fig. 7.1; Whiteley et al., 2002, p. 159, pl. 150-153. Description: Family Asaphidae. The dorsal shield is oval in outline and has a surface characterized by conspicuous shallow circular pits of various sizes up to approximately 200 µm in diameter, which become steadily weaker towards the posterior of the exoskeleton; pitting is variable in strength among specimens. The cephalon is subtriangular to parabolic in outline, moderately convex in both directions, and the glabella is completely fused with the occipital ring. First and second lateral lobes and furrows are faintly distinguishable on some specimens. Small Isotelus gigas, particularly those under 50mm long, often have genal spines but these are lost as the trilobite became larger. The genal spines are narrow with a slight taper throughout their length. There is a distinct similarity between I. gigas, I. iowensis, and I. walcotti in relation to their spines. Raymond (1914) makes a detailed study of the ontogeny of I. gigas and the differences separating it from other Isotelids. Rudkin and Tripp (1989) also explain these differences by using mean measurements of different parts of the Isotelus exoskeleton from I. gigas and I. walcotti specimens. I. gigas differs from the other species because the genal spines are not kept into adulthood, and the cephalon and pygidium attain a more pointed appearance. The eyes of I. gigas are holochroal and situated high on the cephalon. There is a distinct axial furrow which runs along each side of the thorax and cephalon, but is not impressed into the pygidium. The thorax is composed of eight thoracic segments. The pygidium is subtriangular with twelve axial rings faintly marked by indistinct ring furrows on the surface. The specimens from the Walcott-Rust Quarry are in two populations. Numerous small holaspids, including the neotype, are from layer 4 and the larger specimens are from overlying rocks. Ecology: Because its morphology, being a flat-lying trilobite with raised eyes and a horizontally oriented hypostome, it seems highly unlikely that Isotelus was an infaunal filter feeder. It has been suggested, however, that adult I. gigas had limited capabilities as a swimmer. It probably functioned as an epibenthic (above/on sediment) or shallow infaunal scavenger/predator, digging subhorizontal furrows and lying covered by a thin layer of sediment, with its eyes exposed. The pitting of the surface of I. gigas, being especially concentrated around the anterior portions of the body, has led some paleontologists to believe the pits acted as some sort of sensory organ. As a defensive measure I. gigas could enroll its body, with the margins of the cephalon and the pygidium fitting tightly edge to edge, so that the more vulnerable ventral anatomy would be protected.
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MCZ 100938: Neotype, 55mm long |
MCZ 100936: Hypotype, 29mm long
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Isotelus growth series based on Raymond, 1914: from left to right, MCZ 100935, MCZ 100936, MCZ 100937, MCZ 100938 |
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| Isotelus iowensis Owen, 1852- Description from Raymond, 1914..
Isotelus iowensis Owen, 1852. Raymond, 1914, pl. 3, figs. 1, 2; Wilson, 1947, p. 24, pl. 3, fig. 4, pl. 4. Description: Family Asaphidae. It is so closely allied to Isotelus gigas, that, where the two species occur together, as at Trenton Falls, it seems almost like hair-splitting to recognize two species. Essentially, it is an I. gigas which retains at maturity certain youthful characters usually lost by that species. Thus, the adult Isotelus iowensis has long genal spines, extending to the fifth, sixth, or seventh segment, an axial lobe a little less than half the width of the thorax, and pygidia show a fairly convex axial lobe, and traces of ribs on the pleural lobes. The pygidia are also somewhat more rounded than those of I. gigas, although fully as long. Ecology: See Isotelus gigas.
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MCZ 100943: Hypotype, 54mm long |
MCZ100942: Hypotype, 134mm long |
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| Isotelus walcotti Ulrich in Walcott, 1918 – Description from Whiteley et al., 2002 Isotelus iowensis Owen, 1852. Raymond, 1914, pl. 3, figs. 1, 2; Wilson, 1947, p. 24, pl. 3, fig. 4, pl. 4; Wilson, 1947, pl. 4 [non pl. 3, fig. 4]. Description: Family Asaphidae. Known only from the Walcott-Rust Quarry this trilobite bears a strong resemblance to Isotelus iowensis. It differs from I. gigas found in the same rocks in that it keeps its genal spines throughout its growth, and the anterior and posterior ends of the cephalon and pygidium, respectively, are rounded in I. walcotti while they have a more pointed appearance in I. gigas. Larger specimens of I. walcotti are rare. Ecology: See Isotelus gigas.
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MCZ113698: Hypotype, 125mm long |
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| Kawina trentonensis (Clarke) - Description from Raymond, 1925
Pseudosphaerexochus trentonensis Clarke, p. 734, fig. 53, 54; Weller, 1903, p. 205, pl. 15, fig. 24, 25. Description: Family Cheiruridae. Specimens of Kawina trentonensis from the Walcott collection, although poorly preserved, show that the eyes were small, located close to the glabella opposite the second pair of lobes, and that the fixed cheeks were covered with pits surrounded by inosculating ridges dotted with small pustules. The cheeks slope abruptly downward from the highly vaulted glabella, and the posterior course of the facial suture is first outward, then slightly forward, turning backward in a broad arc to the genal angle.
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MCZ 145727: 25mm long |
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| Meadowtownella trentonensis (Hall, 1847) – Description from Brett et al., 1999, Ross, 1979, and Whiteley et al., 2002
Acidaspis trentonensis Hall, 1847, p. 240, pl. 64, fig. 4a-f. Description: Family Odontopleuridae. The trilobite is ornate, small, and rarely over 2.5cm (1 inch) long. On the glabella lateral lobe L1 is significantly larger than lateral lobe L2 (see image for labeled lobes). A large median tubercle is present on the occipital ring. Other tubercles are evenly distributed behind the occipital furrow but increase in size to a transverse row behind the large median tubercle along the margin of the occipital ring. On the thorax there is a distinct row of 4 or 5 pustules in the interpleural furrow. There are two pairs of pygidial border spines in front of the major pair and two posterior pairs, both of which are discrete from the major spines.
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MCZ 111709 and MCZ 111717: Hypotypes, 10.5mm and 12mm long |
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| Nanillaenus americanus (Billings, 1859) - Description from Billings, 1859 and Whiteley et al., 2002.
Illaenus americanus Billings, 1859b, p. 371; Billings, 1865, p. 329, figs. 316a-d, 318; Raymond and Narraway, 1908, pl. 60, figs. 1-3; Wilson, 1947, p. 31, pl. 7, figs. 3, 4. Description: Family Illaenidae. This trilobite is oblong and distinctly trilobed. The cephalon is significantly larger than the pygidium and has a length two thirds the width. The cephalon is most prominently convex at the center. The eyes are set well back and far apart. The free cheeks have a prominent blunt angle. The thorax has 8 thoracic segments and an axial lobe about one third the width of the whole trilobite. The pygidium is relatively small, having a length two thirds that of the cephalon and a width twice that of the length. There are strong axial furrows that are well defined over half the length of the pygidium which continue through the thorax and end on the cephalon as sigmoid curves (curving in then out). The surface is covered with short squamose (“resembling a scale”) wrinkles.
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MCZ 112861: Hypotype, 20mm long |
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| Indet. Proetid – Description from Brett et al., 1999
Indet. Proetid Brett et al., 1999, p. 301, fig. 8.9. Description: Family Proetidae. Proetids are rare in the Ordovician rocks of New York. This specimen is undescribed.
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MCZ 111714: Hypotype, 1mm long |
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| Sphaerocoryphe robusta Walcott, 1875 - Description from Brett et al., 1999, Walcott, 1875, and Whiteley et al., 2002
Sphaerocoryphe robusta Walcott, 1875a, p. 274, fig. 18a, 18b; Wilson, 1947, pl. 10, figs. 1, 2a, 2b; Brett et al., 1999, p. 300, fig. 8.2; Whiteley et al., 2002, p. 136, pl. 85. Description: Family Cheiruridae. The general form is subovate, convex. The posterior of the cephalon exhibits a long genal spine on either side. The glabella is highly inflated and subglobose. It is constricted at the base and projects beyond the anterior and lateral margins. Two minute rudimentary lobes are separated from the anterior lobe by deep furrows each side of the central axis. The eyes are prominent, subglobose, and directed forward and outward from the central eminences of the cheeks. The visual surface occupies the outer lateral margins of the eye. The thorax is a little longer than the cephalon and has ten thoracic segments. The axial lobe arches forward and narrows very gradually , posteriorly as wide as the pleural lobes. Each pleuron is flattened for two thirds of its length until it curves slightly backward, forming a short spine. The pygidium is composed of three segments, the most anterior of which exhibits two long pygidial spines. The surface of the exoskeleton is finely granulated.
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MCZ 110901: Hypotype, 13mm long |
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© 2004 President and Fellows of Harvard College |
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