Biology:Merlinia

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Short description: Extinct genus of trilobites

Merlinia
Temporal range: Early Arenig
Scientific classification e
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Animalia
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Arthropoda
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Artiopoda
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Trilobita
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Asaphida
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Asaphidae
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Merlinia
Fortey & Owens, 1987

Merlinia is an extinct genus from a well-known class of fossil marine arthropods, the trilobites. It lived during the early part of the Arenig stage of the Ordovician Period,[1] a faunal stage which lasted from approximately 478 to 471 million years ago.[1] These trilobites were named after the Welsh wizard Merlin, as the fossilised tails (pygidia) of trilobites were often mistaken for petrified butterflies, and were hence linked with mythological tales involving Merlin.[2][3]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q11777496 entry