Analox
| Analox Temporal range: Botomian (Olenellus-zone) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Analox bipunctata | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Trilobita |
| Order: | Agnostida |
| Family: | Weymouthiidae |
| Genus: | Analox Rasetti, 1966 |
| species | |
Analox is an extinct genus from a well-known class of fossil marine arthropods, the trilobites. It lived during the Botomian stage.[1] It can easily be distinguished from other trilobites by the two furrows that extend forwards and sidewards from the front of the glabella.
Distribution
Analox bipunctata is known from the Lower Cambrian of the United States (unnamed formation, East Chatham Quad, Columbia County, New York State 42°24′N 73°30′W / 42.400°N 73.500°W).[2][3]
Ecology
A. bilobatus occurs in association with other Weymouthiidae (Acidiscus, Acimetopus, Bathydiscus, Bolboparia, Leptochilodiscus, Serrodiscus), Calodiscus, several species of Olenellus and Bonnia (Dorypygidae).[2]
Description
Like all Agnostida, Analox is diminutive and the headshield (or cephalon) and tailshield (or pygidium) are of approximately the same size (or isopygous) and outline. Like all Weymouthiidae, it lacks eyes and rupture lines (or sutures). The central raised area of the cephalon (or glabella) tapers forward and has a hardly discernible transverse furrow. Where the lateral portion of the furrow surrounding the glabella bends into the frontal portion, it meets left and right with the merged median and border furrows that extend more outwards than forwards, until these end in a pit some distance from the side. This is a very distinct character of Analox. The large lobe behind this furrow (or L1), extends into a massive, broad based spine that points backward and upwards. The most backwards portion of the glabella, called occipital ring, is indistinct beneath the glabellar spine. The anterior border swollen medially, defined by the furrows running anterolaterally from axial furrow at front of glabella. There is no lateral cephalic border. The posterior border furrow fades out a little in front of genal angle. The pygidium has a long axis (of about eight rings). The pygidial border is narrow and defined by equally narrow border furrow.
References
- 1 2 Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera (Trilobita entry)". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. Archived from the original on 5 September 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
- 1 2 Paleobiology Database. "East Chatham Quad, unnamed fm., NY (Cambrian of the United States) (trilobite)". Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ↑ Whittington, H. B. et al. Part O, Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Revised, Volume 1 – Trilobita – Introduction, Order Agnostida, Order Redlichiida. 1997