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A rare non‐trilobite artiopodan from the G uzhangian ( C ambrian S eries 3) W eeks F ormation K onservat‐ L agerstätte in U tah, USA
Author(s) -
OrtegaHernández Javier,
LeroseyAubril Rudy,
Kier Carlo,
Bonino Enrico
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
palaeontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.69
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1475-4983
pISSN - 0031-0239
DOI - 10.1111/pala.12136
Subject(s) - arthropod , trilobite , affinities , biology , evolutionary biology , anatomy , paleontology , biochemistry , ordovician
We describe a weakly biomineralized non‐trilobite artiopodan arthropod from the G uzhangian W eeks F ormation of U tah. F alcatamacaris bellua gen. et sp. nov. is typified by a thin calcitic cuticle, broad cephalon without eyes or dorsal ecdysial sutures, an elongate trunk with distinctively sickle‐shaped pleural spines and a long tailspine with a bifurcate termination. The precise affinities of F alcatamacaris gen. nov. are problematic due to the presence of unique features within A rtiopoda, such as the peculiar morphology of the pleural and posterior regions of the trunk. Possible affinities with aglaspidid‐like arthropods and concilitergans are discussed based on the possession of 11 trunk tergites, edge‐to‐edge articulations and overall body spinosity. The new taxon highlights the importance of the W eeks F ormation K onservat‐ L agerstätte for further understanding the diversity of extinct arthropod groups in the upper C ambrian.