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
_Paired biramous appendages._--Behind the antennules all the appendages
except those on the anal segment are biramous, consisting of a
coxopodite with an inward-directed endobase and an outward-directed
pair of branches, the exopodite above, and the six-jointed endopodite
beneath. The basipodite really bears the exopodite, but the latter
also touches the coxopodite. This structure has been seen in
_Triarthrus_, _Cryptolithus_, _Neolenus_, _Kootenia_, _Calymene_,
_Ceraurus_, and _Ptychoparia_. In _Triarthrus_, _Neolenus_,
_Acidaspis_, _Ptyclioparia_, and Kootenia, the appendages extend
beyond the margins of the dorsal test. In _Cryptolithus_ and
_Isotelus_ none (other than antennules) does so. In _Isotelus_ and
_Acidaspis_ only the endopodites have been seen. In _Triarthrus_,
_Calymene_, _Ceraurus_, and _Neolenus_ there are four pairs of
appendages behind the antennules. The other genera probably had the
same number, but the full structure of the under part of their cephala
is not known. In _Triarthrus_ the endopodites of the cephalon are
slender, the individual segments parallel-sided, the inner ones
flattened, the outer ones cylindrical in section. They project
slightly beyond the edge of the cephalon when fully extended, and each
terminates in three small spines. In _Cryptolithus_ the endopodites of
the cephalon are longer than those of the thorax, but with the
possible exception of the first pair, are bent backward at the
carpopodite, and do not ordinarily project beyond the brim of the
test. In _Neolenus_ the endopodites of the cephalon are rather thick
and wide, but are long, project forward, and extend beyond the brim.
The individual segments are flattened, probably compressed oval in
section. The terminal segment of each is furnished with three strong
spines at its distal end. In _Calymene_ and _Ceraurus_ the endopodites
appear to consist of slender segments which are oval or circular in
section. In _Calymene_ Walcott believed the three distal segments of
the last endopodites of the head to be greatly enlarged, giving these
appendages a paddle-like form similar to some of the appendages of
eurypterids. The evidence for this does not seem to me to be good. The
cephalic endopodites of _Isotelus_ are entirely similar to those of
the thorax, and are rather short, consisting of a series of short
cylindrical segments which do not taper greatly toward the distal end.
The endopodites of the cephalon of _Acidaspis_, _Kootenia_, and
_Ptychoparia_ are still unknown.
The exopodites of the cephalon seem in all known cases (_Triarthrus_,
_Cryptolithus_, _Neolenus_, and Ceraurus) to be like those of the
thorax. They point more directly forward in most cases, project beyond
the margin of the head normally only in Triarthrus, and usually occupy
the region under the cheeks (fixed and free).
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