Prospectatrix
Temporal range:
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: †Trilobita
Order: †Asaphida
Family: †Cyclopygidae
Genus: †Prospectatrix
Fortey, 1981
Type species
Cyclopyge genatenta[1]
Species
  • P. genatenta (Stubblefield, 1927)
  • P. exquisita Zhou,McNamara,Yuan & Zhang,1994[2]
  • P. superciliata (Dean, 1973)

Prospectatrix is a genus of trilobites of average size, that lived in the Lower Ordovician and is probably ancestral to the other genera of the Cyclopygidae family. Its eyes are only moderately enlarged and it has six or seven thorax segments.

Etymology

Prospectatrix is derived from the Latin, meaning “early observer”, expressing that this genus was an early representative of the extremely well-sighted cyclopygids. The species epithet is derived from the Latin exquisita, meaning excellent, refers to the well preserved type specimens.

Distribution

  • P. genatenta occurs in the Lower Ordovician of the United Kingdom (Upper Tremadocian, Shumardia (Conophrys) salopiensis Zone, Shineton Shale, Shineton, Shropshire; Bergamia rushtoni biozone, Pontyfeni Formation, Whitland, Carmarthen District, Wales), Argentina (Tremadoc, Portezuelo de La Alumbrera Creek, Famatina Range, Upper Volcancito Formation, La Rioja).[3]
  • P. exquisita has been found in the Lower Ordovician of northwest China (Dichelepyge sinensis Zone, upper Torsuqtagh Group northeastern Tarim, Xinjiang).
  • P. brevior is known from the Lower Ordovician of the United Kingdom (Tremadocian, Skiddaw Group fauna, Lake District).
  • P. superciliata (synonym Pricyclopyge superciliata)[4] from the Lower Ordovician of Turkey.

References

  1. ↑ Fortey, R.A. (1981). "Prospectatrix genatenta (Stubblefield) and the trilobite superfamily Cyclopygacea". Geological Magazine. 118 (6): 603–614. Bibcode:1981GeoM..118..603F. doi:10.1017/s0016756800033835. S2CID 128824463.
  2. ↑ Zhou, Z.; McNamara, K.J.; Yuan, W.; Zhang, T. (1994). "Cyclopygid trilobites from the Ordovician of northeastern Tarim, Xinjiang, northwest China" (PDF). Records of the Western Australian Museum. 16 (4): 593–622. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "Paleobiological Database". Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  4. ↑ Dean, W.T. (1973). "The Lower Paleozoic stratigraphy and faunas of the Taurus Mountains near Beyşehir, Turkey. III. The trilobites of the Sobova Formation (Lower Ordovician)". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Geology. 24: 281–348. Retrieved 16 June 2013.


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