Geragnostus

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Geragnostus
Temporal range: Ordovician (Tremadocian to Ashgill)
Geragnostus mediterraneus CRF.jpg
Geragnostus mediterraneus, 6mm, St.Chinian Formation, France, Middle Ordovician
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Trilobita (?)
Order: Agnostida
Family: Metagnostidae
Genus: Geragnostus
Howell, 1935
Species
  • G. sidenbladhi(Linnarsson, 1869) (type) synonym Agnostus sidenbladhi
  • G. balanolobusTurvey, 2005
  • G. clusus Whittington, 1963
  • G. consors(Holub, 1912) synonyms Agnostus consors, Neptunagnostella consors
  • G. crassusTjernvik, 1956
  • G. fabiusBillings, 1865
  • G. fenhsiangensisLu, 1975
  • G. gilcidaeRábano, Pek & Vaněk, 1985
  • G. hispanicusRábano, Pek & Vaněk, 1985
  • G. kirgizica(Weber, 1948) synonyms Trinodus glabratus var. kirgizica, T. kirgizica [1]
  • G. longicollisRaymond, 1925
  • G. occitanusHowell, 1935
  • G. perconvexus(Kobayashi & Hamada, 1978) synonym Geratrinodus perconvexus
  • G. splendens(Holub, 1912)
  • G. tullbergi(Novák, 1883) synonyms Agnostus tullbergi, Geragnostella tullbergi
  • G. waldorfstatleriTurvey, 2005 [2] [3]
Synonyms

Geragnostella, Geratrinodus, Neptunagnostella

Geragnostus is a genus of very small agnostid trilobites whose fossils are found Ordovician-aged marine strata from Eurasia, North America and Argentina.

Etymology

Taxonomy

Geragnostus is very similar to Trinodus and may in future be included in that genus. In Trinodus the posterior lobe (M3) of the pygidial axis (or rhachis) is clearly shorter than the anterior and middle lobes (M1+M2) combined, while in Geragnostus it is equal or greater in length. Geragnostus is not closely related to Micragnostus, because its glabella is structurally different. [4]

Species previously assigned to Geragnostus

Distribution

Unidentified species in the genus Geragnostus have among others been found in Colombia (Guaviare River, Meta). [7]

Description

Like all Agnostida, Geragnostus is diminutive, with the headshield (or cephalon) and tailshield (or pygidium) of approximately the same size (or isopygous) and outline. Like all Agnostina, Geragnostus has only two thorax segments, where known. The cephalon is subquadrate in outline, and almost as long as wide. The highest point is the node in the centre of the centrally raised section of the cephalon (or glabella). The glabella is about 23 times the length of the cephalon, and its sides are very gently tapered forward, with a broadly rounded front, and is well defined by shallow furrows and an abrupt change in exoskeletal slope. It is 2 times as long as wide. The elongated glabellar node is prominent. The rear of the glabella is straight. Just in front of the node, a depression curves forward- and outward. The basal lobes are wider than they are long and almost touch. The border is relatively narrow, gently convex, and defined by a wide, shallow border furrow, widest at the front. The genal angles are pointed without spines.

The pygidial axis (or rhachis) is 1223 times as long as the pygidium, almost parallel-sided, very slightly constricted at the middle lobe (M2), broadly rounded, and 1+131+23 times as long as wide. It has three distinct pairs of lobes, and is defined by shallow furrows. The forward lobe of the rhachis (M1) is a bit shorter and wider than the middle lobe (M2) and separated from it by a furrow (F1) which is directed outward and slightly backward from the dorsal furrow, and then curved strongly forward adaxially. The rear lobe (M3) is 1+131+23 longer than both others together, and the furrow is directed outward and slightly forward from the dorsal furrow. The middle lobe has a prominent tubercle, which extends backwards above the anterior portion of rear lobe. It is the highest point of the pygidium. The border is moderately wide, gently convex, defined by a shallow furrow, and widest at the rear corners which carry a pair of strong, backwardly directed spines. [4]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Han <span style="font-style:normal;">(trilobite)</span></i> Extinct genus of trilobites

Han is a monotypic genus of agnostid trilobite, whose sole member is Han solo. The type specimen of H. solo was found in marine strata of the Arenig to Llanvirn-aged Zitai Formation of Middle Ordovician southern China, and is named after the character in Star Wars.

<i>Paradoxides</i> Extinct genus of trilobites

Paradoxides is a genus of large to very large trilobite found throughout the world during the Middle Cambrian period. One record-breaking specimen of Paradoxides davidis, described by John William Salter in 1863, is 37 cm (15 in). The cephalon was semicircular with free cheeks ending in long, narrow, recurved spines. Eyes were crescent shaped providing an almost 360° view, but only in the horizontal plane. Its elongate thorax was composed of 19–21 segments and adorned with longish, recurved pleural spines. Its pygidium was comparatively small. Paradoxides is a characteristic Middle-Cambrian trilobite of the 'Atlantic' (Avalonian) fauna. Avalonian rocks were deposited near a small continent called Avalonia in the Paleozoic Iapetus Ocean. Avalonian beds are now in a narrow strip along the East Coast of North America, and in Europe.

<i>Agnostus</i> Extinct genus of trilobites

Agnostus is a genus of agnostid trilobites, belonging to the family Agnostidae, that lived during the late Middle Cambrian – early Upper Cambrian. It is the type genus of the family Agnostidae and is subdivided into two subgenera, Agnostus and Homagnostus.

<i>Dikelocephalus</i> Genus of trilobites

Dikelocephalus is a genus of very large trilobites of up to 50 cm (20 in) long, that lived during the last 3 million years of the Cambrian (Sunwaptan). Their fossils are commonly found as disarticulated sclerites, in the upper Mississippi Valley and in Canada (Alberta). The exoskeleton is rounded anteriorly, with the thorax and sides of the tailshield slightly tapering to about 23× of the width across the base of the spines at the back of the headshield. At the side corners of the pygidium there may be triangular or hooked spines, pointing backwards, while between the spines the posterior margin is at a 30-75° angle with the lateral margin, gently convex or nearly straight. If pygidial spines are lacking, the margin is gradually rounded. The thorax has 12 segments.

<i>Globampyx</i> Extinct genus of trilobites

Globampyx is an extinct genus raphiophorid trilobites. It lived during the later part of the Arenig stage of the Ordovician Period, approximately 478 to 471 million years ago. Species of the genus are known from Canada, Norway (Svalbard) and Sweden.

Egyngolia is a genus of very small sized Trilobites, that lived during the Lower Cambrian in what are today the Russia Federation, Mongolia, and South Australia.

Acadagnostus is a genus of trilobite from the Middle Cambrian, with 7 species currently recognized. The type species A. acadicus has the widest distribution known from any peronopsid and has been found in North America, Greenland, England, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Altai Mountains, the Siberian shield, China, and Australia.

Acmarhachis is a genus of trilobite in the order Agnostida, which lived in what are now Australia, Canada, China (Anhui), Kazakhstan, Russia (Kharaulakh), and the US. It was described by Resser in 1938, and the type species is Acmarhachis typicalis.

<i>Phalagnostus</i>

Phalagnostus is a genus of small trilobites, in the order Agnostida. It lived during the Middle Cambrian, in what are now Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, the Russian Federation, Wales, Sweden, and possibly the United States (Vermont). The headshield is almost entirely effaced and wider than the tailshield. The pygidium is also very effaced, but the ovate pygidial axis is well defined and a border furrow is also present.

<i>Pseudonaraoia</i>

Pseudonaraoia is a genus of small marine arthropods within the family Naraoiidae, that lived during the late Middle Ordovician period. The only species presently known is Pseudonaraoia hammanni.

<i>Glyptagnostus reticulatus</i> Extinct species of trilobite

Glyptagnostus reticulatus is a species of agnostid trilobite belonging to the genus Glyptagnostus. It existed during the Paibian Age of the Cambrian. It has a cosmopolitan distribution and is an important index fossil in biostratigraphy. It was characterized by an unusual net-like pattern of furrows on both the cephalon and the pygidium.

<i>Trinodus</i> Extinct genus of trilobites

Trinodus is a very small to small blind trilobite, a well known group of extinct marine arthropods, which lived during the Ordovician, in what are now the Yukon Territories, Virginia, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Svalbard, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Iran, Kazakhstan and China. It is one of the last of the Agnostida order to survive.

<i>Galbagnostus</i>

Galbagnostus is an extinct genus of agnostid trilobite. It lived during the Lower and Middle Ordovician.

<i>Sphaeragnostus</i>

Sphaeragnostus is an extinct genus from a well-known class of fossil marine arthropods, the trilobites. It can be recognized by having two thorax segments, a totally effaced headshield, while the tailshield although effaced, has a clear furrow parallel to its border, and a short, convex, subcircular axis. It lived during the Ordovician.

<i>Thoracocare</i>

Thoracocare is a minute to very small trilobite, that lived during part of the Middle Cambrian in what are today the states of Idaho, Nevada and Utah. It is the only trilobite known with just two thorax segments outside most members of the Agnostida order. It can be distinguished from Agnostida by the very wide subquadrate glabella, parallel-side or widening forward in the largest specimen, with the full front side touching the border. Two species are known, one, T. idahoensis, only from pygidia.

<i>Toragnostus</i>

Toragnostus is a genus of trilobites restricted to the late Middle Cambrian. Its remains have been found in the United States, Greenland, Denmark, China, Sweden, the Russian Federation, and Kazakhstan. Its headshield and tailshield are almost completely effaced and it has two thorax segments.

<i>Pricyclopyge</i> Extinct genus of trilobites

Pricyclopyge is a genus of trilobites assigned to the family Cyclopygidae that occurs throughout the Ordovician. Pricyclopyge had an extratropical distribution, and there is evidence that it lived in darker parts of the water column. Pricyclopyge has huge eyes, an inverted pear-shaped glabella, six thorax segments, with on the 3rd two small discs. Pricyclopyge is known from what are today China, the Czech Republic, France, and the United Kingdom.

<i>Psychopyge</i>

Psychopyge is a genus of trilobite, that lived during the upper Emsian and has been found in Germany and Morocco. It is characterized by the swordlike extension from the front of the head.

Anabaraspis is a genus of redlichiid trilobite, A. splendens occurs in the uppermost Lower Cambrian and lowest Middle Cambrian of Russia. In Anabaraspis, there is an extended area in front of the glabella which is not differentiated in a border and a preglabellar field. It is a unique character in the family Paradoxididae.

References

  1. 1 2 Karim, T.S. (2009). "Ordovician trilobites from Iran". Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 02 (99): 101–124. doi:10.1017/s1755691009007063. S2CID   129780250.
  2. Whittington, H. B. et al. Part O, Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Revised, Volume 1 – Trilobita – Introduction, Order Agnostida, Order Redlichiida. 1997
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Turvey, S.T. (2005). "Agnostid trilobites from the Arenig-Llanvirn of South China". Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences. 95 (3–4): 527–542. doi:10.1017/s026359330000119x. S2CID   130775617.
  4. 1 2 3 Ahlberg, P. (1989). "The type species of the Ordovician agnostid trilobite Geragnostus, Howell, 1935". Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 63 (3–4): 309–317. Bibcode:1989PalZ...63..309A. doi:10.1007/bf02989517. S2CID   85408131.
  5. Geragnostus fabius at Fossilworks.org
  6. Geragnostus longicollis at Fossilworks.org
  7. Guaviare River Ordovician at Fossilworks.org