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Kolihapeltine trilobites, the spiniest scutelluids from the eastern A nti‐ A tlas ( M orocco, E arly D evonian): evolution, environment and classification
Author(s) -
Feist Raimund,
Chatterton Brian D. E.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
papers in palaeontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.827
H-Index - 15
ISSN - 2056-2802
DOI - 10.1002/spp2.1015
Subject(s) - subfamily , genus , biology , type (biology) , taxon , zoology , ecology , biochemistry , gene
New material from five localities in the P ragian and E msian of the south‐eastern M oroccan T afilalt and M a'der regions sheds new light on the morphology and function of the entire exoskeleton of kolihapeltine trilobites and on their ecology and taphonomy. Entire and articulated specimens are preserved in what appear to be slumped obrution deposits. Monospecific cavity infillings in the H amar L aghdad mounds are considered to have resulted from transport of sclerites from nearby gregarious assemblages. Development of pronounced spinosity is mainly interpreted as a defensive strategy. The overall morphology, in particular the elongated shape of the tail, and the absence of strongly developed muscle attachment areas, points to an epibenthic bottom life rather than a swimming lifestyle. Evolutionary trends mainly concern morphological changes in the shape of the pygidia that narrow considerably and elongate through time. We provide a systematic assessment of the subfamily K olihapeltinae. Hitherto poorly known species of K olihapeltis P rantl and P řibyl are reviewed and their diagnoses completed; two new taxa, K . bassei sp. nov. and K . tafilaltensis sp. nov., are described. S agittapeltis K im is emended after revision of its type species S . triangularis . A new species, S . belkai sp. nov., is described. The genus A ndegavia P illet is discarded after we show that its type species is an indeterminable scutelluid fragment. The new genus H eliopeltis with two species, H . ihmadii gen. et sp. nov. and H . johnsoni gen. et sp. nov., is erected.