The Appendages, Anatomy, and Relationships of TrilobitesRaymond, Percy E. (Percy Edward)
Science
The Appendages, Anatomy, and Relationships of Trilobites
Raymond, Percy E. (Percy Edward)
Trilobites
Walcott considers _Waptia_ as a transitional form between the
Branchiopoda and the Malacostraca.
=Yohoia tenuis= Walcott.
Illustrated: Walcott, Smithson. Misc. Coll., vol. 57, 1912, p. 172,
pl. 29, figs. 7-13.
This species, though incompletely known, has several interesting
characteristics. The head shows, quite plainly in some specimens, the
five segments of which it is composed. The eyes are small, situated in
a niche between the first and second segments, and are described as
being pedunculate. The eight segments of the thorax all show short
triangular pleural extensions, somewhat like those of _Remopleurides_
or _Robergia_. The abdomen consists of four cylindrical segments, the
last with a pair of expanded caudal rami.
The antennules appear to be short, while the antennas are large, with
several segments, ending in three spines, and apparently adapted for
serving as claspers in the male. The third, fourth, and fifth pairs of
cephalic appendages are short, tapering, endopodite-like legs similar
to those of _Burgessia_.
The appendages of the thorax are not well preserved, and there seem to
be none on the abdomen.
This species is referred by Walcott to the Anostraca.
=Opabina regalis= Walcott.
Illustrated: Walcott, Smithson. Misc. Coll., vol. 57, 1912, p. 167,
pl. 27, fig. 6; pl. 28, fig. 1.
This most remarkably specialized anostracan is not well enough known
to allow comparison to be made with other contemporaneous Crustacea,
but it is worthy of mention.
There is no carapace, the eyes are pedunculated, thorax and abdomen
are not differentiated, and the telson is a broad, elongate, spatulate
plate. There seem to be sexual differences in the form of the anterior
cephalic and caudal appendages, but this is not fully established. The
most remarkable feature is the long, large, median cephalic appendage
which is so suggestive of the proboscis of the recent _Thamnocephalus
platyurus_ Packard. The appendages are not well enough preserved to
permit a determination as to whether they are schizopodal or
phyllopodan.
_Summary._
Walcott referred _Burgessia_ and _Waptia_ to new families under the
Notostraca, while _Yohoia_ and _Opabina_ were placed with the
Anostraca. Except for the development of the carapace, there is a
striking similarity between _Waptia_ and _Yohoia_, serving to connect
the two groups.
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