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
The hypostoma is imperfectly preserved and is turned completely
around, so that the anterior margin is directed backward, and the
posterior one is so much in the shadow that it does not show well in
any of the photographs. The form is, however, essentially like that
of _Trinucleoides reussi_ (Barrande), the only other trinucleid of
which the hypostoma is known, except that the border does not extend
so far forward along the sides, and it is much smaller.
The antennules are not inserted close to the hypostoma, as in
Triarthrus, but at some distance from it, and, as nearly as can be
determined, directly beneath the antennal pits which are seen near the
front of the glabella in many species of trinucleids.
[Illustration: Fig. 45.--_Cryptolithus tessellatus_ Green. Drawing of
specimen 233, made by Professor Beecher. × 9. Below are parts of two
of the endopodites of specimen 236, showing the interarticular
membranes. × 41.]
The antennules are long, and are composed of far fewer and longer
segments than those of Triarthrus. In this specimen they converge
backward, cross each other and at the distal end are more or less
intertwined.
As is shown in the drawing and photograph, very little can be learned
from this individual about the other appendages of the cephalon. A few
fragments of exopodites on either side suggest that these members
pointed forward and were much like those in Triarthrus, but nothing
conclusive is shown.
The exopodites and endopodites of the left side of the thorax are best
preserved. The exopodites are above the endopodites, and only that
portion exposed from the ventral side which projects beyond the line
at which the endopodites bend backward. The endopodite on the left
side of the first thoracic segment is the best preserved. It shows
seven segments, the outer ones best. The coxopodite is short and
narrow, the basipodite somewhat heavier and longer, while the
carpopodite and propodite are the widest and strongest segments. The
propodite is triangular and flattened, like the segments on the middle
and posterior part of the thorax of Triarthrus. At the inner end of
the ischiopodite and meropodite are tufts of spines pointing inward
and backward. These are not shown on any of the photographs, but may
be seen with the light striking the specimen at the proper angle.
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