Researches on the Visual Organs of the TrilobitesLindström, Gustaf
Science
Researches on the Visual Organs of the Trilobites
Lindström, Gustaf
Trilobites
These are found solely in the family of the Phacopidæ, unless the
Lichadidæ were also provided with this sort of eyes, but we have had
no opportunity to study them. It seems, however, not likely that they
had aggregate eyes. BARRANDE has represented them quite as finely
reticulate as the eyes of any Asaphid. We have sectioned and figured
the eyes of Dalmanites vulgaris and D. obtusus from the Silurian of
Gotland and found that these have truly aggregate eyes, each consisting
of a regular biconvex lens, lying enclosed in a socket of its own and
covered by a cornea of its own. The distance between the eyes is much
variable and in a few instances they are nearly contiguous. Extremes
are seen on pl. III figures 43, 47. The lenses are comparatively large,
and have always had a covering membrane, though this in many instances
has been lost. This membrane which is an immediate continuation of
the general integument of the body covers the lenses all round their
superior moiety. In its prolongation downwards between the lenses (Pl.
VI fig. 3, 4) it is free from the contact with them and hangs alongside
and around much incrassated, so as to take in a section a lengthened
lancet like shape. It lies thus alongside the other interstitial test,
and is like this perforated by longitudinal canals. In a horizontal
section taken a little below the surface it encircles the lens as a
wall like ring (Pl. VI fig. 1, 2). In a vertical section the lenses
lie in direct contact with the cheek without any intervening zone and
the cheek has the structure so common amongst the trilobites, being
perforated by vertical tubes going straight down from the surface (Pl.
III fig. 44, Pl. VI f. 5).
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