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
Specimen No. 236 (pl. 7, figs. 3-5; pl. 9, figs. 1, 2; text fig. 45).
The right half of the same thorax and pygidium as specimen No. 235.
The specimen is cleaned from both upper and lower sides and, the
dorsal test being removed, reveals the long blade-like setæ of the
exopodites, each blade being concave along its median line. They are
long on the exopodites of the thoracic segments, but become shorter,
without, however, any visible change of form on the pygidium. Although
the posterior end is not well preserved, one gets no suggestion from a
study of this side of the specimens that the exopodites of the
posterior end are in any striking way different from those of segments
further forward. The tips of some of the setæ show minute spines, one
to each blade.
On the ventral side are a number of endopodites, but they are more
fragmentary than those of the other half of the specimen. Some of the
exopodites are well shown, the blades being in all cases broken from
the shaft. Two of the endopodites of this specimen are of especial
interest, as they have interarticular membranes between the last three
segments. Professor Beecher made a drawing of one of these which he
placed under his pen drawing (text fig. 45).
_Measurements:_ The specimen is 5 mm. long from the front of the
second thoracic segment to the end of the pygidium. The setæ on the
exopodites of the anterior thoracic segments are 1.7 mm. long, as
exposed from the dorsal side. Some of those on the posterior part of
the pygidium, only incompletely exposed, are 0.31 mm. long.
[Illustration: Fig. 46. _Cryptolithus tessellatus_ Green. A part of a
thorax and pygidium, showing appendages. Drawn by Professor Beecher.
Specimen 238. × 10.]
The dactylopodite of the first endopodite showing the articular
membranes is 0.23 mm. long and 0.13 mm. wide. The propodite is of the
same length and 0.17 mm. wide. The interarticular membrane between
them is 0.066 mm. thick. The spines on the dactylopodite of this
appendage are 0.15 mm. long. All measurements were made on
photographs.
Specimen No. 238 (pl. 8, fig. 4; text fig. 46).
A triangular specimen consisting of the greater part of a pygidium and
parts of all the thoracic segments. Under the thorax the specimen has
been so cleaned that the outer portions of the endopodites are well
shown, while under the pygidium the greater part of the endopodites
seem to have been removed, disclosing the setæ of the exopodites. As
in other specimens, the endopodites of the thorax turn backward at the
distal end of the carpopodite, which is broad and curved, and bears a
tuft of spines on the posterior margin. The dactylopodites seem to
preserve their natural shape, and are very nearly cylindrical in form.
Under the pygidium are several sets of overlapping fringes of setæ of
exopodites, and along the edge of the dorsal furrow, a number of
fragments of segments of what may be coxopodites while with them are a
number of fragmentary shaft of exopodites.
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