Biology:Megistaspis

Short description: Extinct genus of trilobites

Megistaspis Temporal range: Late Cambrian-Silurian PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
M. aliena from Vokovice, Prague (Czech Republic)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	†Trilobita
Order:	†Asaphida
Family:	†Asaphidae
Genus:	†Megistaspis Jaanusson, 1956
Species
M. pugiocauda M. saltaensis

Megistaspis is a genus of trilobites in the order Asaphida and family Asaphidae.

They lived in the Ordovician period (478-449 million years ago), from the Upper Tremadocian age until the Lower Llanvim age. These arthropods were a low-level epifauna, fast-moving and detritivore.

Distribution

Ordovician of Australia, China, Colombia (Serranía de la Macarena, Meta), the Czech Republic, Iran, Norway, United States (Nevada); Arenig of Argentina, Bolivia, China, France, Norway, Sweden, United States (Montana); Dawan of China; Arenigian of Argentina.

Gallery

• 

  Megistaspis hammondi at the Paleontology Museum of Zurich.

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  Megistaspis acuticauda, gypsum replica.

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  Megistaspis sp.

External links

• Sepkoski, Jack Sepkoski's Online Genus Database – Trilobita

Wikidata ☰ Q6809114 entry