Name: Ptychopariid (Canada Trilobites)
Class Trilobita, Trilobite Order Ptychopariida, Family Unknown
Geological Time: Upper Cambrian
Size: 81 mm
Fossil Site: McKay Group, Radium, British Columbia, Canada
This
trilobite the McKay Group, near Radium, B.C. Canada, about 100 miles from
the well-known, Lower Cambrian, Eager formation. Its morphology is bazaar
among trilobites, with huge genal spines that extend behind its pygidium.
It is most likely a member of Order Ptychopariida.
Trilobites of this order have long confounded paleontologists owing to
an astonishing morphological diversity. Many experts believe that there
simply should have not been such a huge number of distinct species. They
posit the the diversity of form is most likely attributable to sexual
dimorphism and cross breeding. One expert claims that this species, other
than its outrageous genal spines, resembles the genus Aphelaspis which
occurs in the same vicinity.
Also see Canada Trilobites
