Harpetida

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Harpetida
Temporal range: Furongian–Frasnian
Harpes perradiatus fossil trilobite (Devonian, Morocco).jpg
A Harpetida trilobite from Morocco.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Trilobita
Subclass: Librostoma
Order: Harpetida
Whittington, 1959
Families

Harpetida is one of the eleven orders of the extinct arthropod class Trilobita. The first harpetid trilobites appear in the Upper Cambrian, and the last species die out in the late Devonian period. [1]

Contents

Harpetid trilobites are characterized among trilobites by bearing a comparatively large, semicircular brim around the cephalon (head) which is often perforated by small pores. This brim is thought to serve as a filter-feeding apparatus. The brim stretches backward on either side of the cephalon (head) and typically has a pronounced suture along the outside.

The compound eyes are typically reduced to small tubercles, though they have strong ridges stretching to the glabella (central region of the cephalon). They also typically have 12 or more thoracic segments. The pygidia are usually small.

The families of Harpetida were formerly included in the order Ptychopariida, but were recently given their own order in 2002. [2] The subclass Librostoma was erected in 1990 by Richard Fortey to cover the various orders originally placed within Ptychopariida. [3] The name "Harpidae" was once used as the name for the trilobite family containing the type genus Harpes. However, this is in conflict with the use of the same name for the family of harp snails and that taxon had precedence. [4]

Families and genera

Life reconstruction of the Late Cambrian harpetid trilobite, Entomaspis radiata, from Utah Entomaspis radiata.JPG
Life reconstruction of the Late Cambrian harpetid trilobite, Entomaspis radiata, from Utah
A fine Harpides sp., in the Ordovician shales of the Eastern Anti Atlas, Morocco A finely conserved Harpides sp., an ancient arthropod of the Ordivician..jpg
A fine Harpides sp., in the Ordovician shales of the Eastern Anti Atlas, Morocco

References

  1. 1 2 3 McNamara, Kenneth J.; Feist, Raimund; Ebach, Malte C. "PATTERNS OF EVOLUTION AND EXTINCTION IN THE LAST HARPETID TRILOBITES DURING THE LATE DEVONIAN (FRASNIAN)". Palaeontology. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2008.00832.x.
  2. Ebach, Malte C.; McNamara, Kenneth J. (2002). "A systematic revision of the family Harpetidae (Trilobita)". Records of the Western Australian Museum. 21 (3): 235. doi:10.18195/issn.0312-3162.21(3).2002.235-267. ISSN   0312-3162.
  3. Ontogeny, hypostome attachment and trilobite classification. RA Fortey, Palaeontology, 1990
  4. Dr. Samuel M. Gon III. "Harpetida Fact Sheet". www.trilobites.info. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  5. 1 2 Johnson, Robert. G. "Devonian Harpetidae from the central and eastern Anti–Atlas, Morocco". Zootaxa.