Megistaspis

Megistaspis
Temporal range: Late Cambrian-Silurian
M. aliena from Vokovice, Prague (Czech Republic)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: †Trilobita
Order: †Asaphida
Family: †Asaphidae
Genus: †Megistaspis
Jaanusson, 1956
Species
  • M. pugiocauda
  • M. saltaensis

Megistaspis is a genus of trilobites in the order Asaphida and family Asaphidae.

They lived in the Ordovician period (478-449 million years ago),[1] from the Upper Tremadocian age until the Lower Llanvim age. These arthropods were a low-level epifauna, fast-moving and detritivore.

Distribution

Ordovician of Australia, China, Colombia (Serranía de la Macarena, Meta), the Czech Republic, Iran, Norway, United States (Nevada); Arenig of Argentina, Bolivia, China, France, Norway, Sweden, United States (Montana); Dawan of China; Arenigian of Argentina.[1]

  • Megistaspis hammondi at the Paleontology Museum of Zurich.
    Megistaspis hammondi at the Paleontology Museum of Zurich.
  • Megistaspis acuticauda, gypsum replica.
    Megistaspis acuticauda, gypsum replica.
  • Megistaspis sp.
    Megistaspis sp.

References

  1. ^ a b Megistaspis at Fossilworks.org