Asaphidae

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Asaphidae
Temporal range: Upper Cambrian–Ordovician
Asaphus latus dorsolateral.jpg
Asaphus latus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade:† Artiopoda
Class:† Trilobita
Order:† Asaphida
Superfamily:† Asaphoidea
Family:† Asaphidae
Burmeister, 1843
Genera

See text

Asaphidae is a family of asaphid trilobites. Although the first genera originate in Upper Cambrian marine strata, the family becomes the most widely distributed and most species-rich trilobite family during the Ordovician.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Distribution

Most Asaphinae are characteristic of Baltica. Isotelinae genera are concentrated in Laurentia. The genera of Nobiliasaphinae are distributed in tropical Gondwana and South China. The genera of Ogygiocaridinae occur in Avalonia, Gondwana and Baltica. [1]

Asaphids first appeared in the Upper Cambrian, [2] and were already fairly common during this time, when 14 genera are known from Australia, North- and South-China. The last members of the family died-out at the end of the Ordovician. [1]

Asaphellus fossil from Mila formation, Ordovician period, Damghan, Iran Asaphellus fossil from Mila formation, Ordovician period, Damghan, Iran 01.jpg
Asaphellus fossil from Mila formation, Ordovician period, Damghan, Iran

Subdivisions and genera

More than 20 subfamilies have been named within the Asaphidae, but very few of the subfamily names are in regular use. [2] Over 150 genera of asaphids have been named. [2]

Vogdesia bromidensis Homotelus bromidensis fossil trilobites (Bromide Formation, Middle Ordovician; Criner Hills, southeastern Carter County, southern Oklahoma, USA) 2 (15382644846).jpg
Vogdesia bromidensis

Asaphidae contains the following genera: [3]

References

  1. 1 2 J.M. Adrian (2014). "20. A synopsis of Ordovician trilobite distribution and diversity". In D.A.T. Harper; T. Servais (eds.). Early Palaeozoic Biogeography and Palaeogeography. Memoirs of the Geological Society of London. Vol. 38. Geological Society of London. p. 490. ISBN   978-1862393738.
  2. 1 2 3 Bell, Mark A.; Braddy, Simon J. (2011). "Cope's rule in the Ordovician trilobite family Asaphidae (order Asaphida): patterns across multiple most parsimonious trees". Historical Biology: 1–8. doi:10.1080/08912963.2011.616201. S2CID   84438297.
  3. ↑ S. M. Gon III. "Order Asaphida". Archived from the original on 6 January 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
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