| Phytophilaspis Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | † Artiopoda |
| Subphylum: | † Trilobitomorpha |
| (unranked): | † Xandarellida |
| Genus: | † Phytophilaspis Ivantsov, 1999 [1] |
| Species | |
| |
Phytophilaspis is a phosphatized [2] genus of trilobite-like arthropod with eyes, found in association with algal remains. [1] It dwelt in well-lit, shallow waters. [3]
Phytophilaspis has several features in common with trilobites, including: tripartite division of the dorsal shield; presence of prominent pygidium; large eyes, situated on the pleural area of the cephalon; facial sutures, and shape of the hypostome. However, it differs from trilobites in many ways, including a reduced thorax, thoracic pleura fused to each other and to the cephalon and pygidium, facial sutures not crossing the eyes, and weak original mineralization of the cuticle. [1] Because of these differences, Phytophilaspis was originally assigned to the Artiopodan subclass Concilliterga, in an undetermined order and family. [1] It was later considered by Bergström and Hou as a xandarellid, along with Cindarella , Xandarella and Sinoburius . [4] A position that was supported in subsequent studies. [5]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|   | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | This prehistoric arthropod–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |
