''Megistaspis'' is a genus of
trilobites in the order
Asaphida
Asaphida is a large, morphologically diverse order of trilobites found in marine strata dated from the Middle Cambrian until their extinction during the Silurian. Asaphida contains six superfamilies (Anomocaroidea, Asaphoidea, Cyclopygoidea, ...
and family ''
Asaphidae''.
They lived in the
Ordovician period (478-449 million years ago),
[ from the Upper ]Tremadocian
The Tremadocian is the lowest stage of Ordovician. Together with the later Floian Stage it forms the Lower Ordovician Epoch. The Tremadocian lasted from to million years ago. The base of the Tremadocian is defined as the first appearance of the ...
age until the Lower Llanvim age. These arthropods were a low-level epifauna, fast-moving and detritivore.
Distribution
Ordovician of Australia, China, Colombia (Serranía de la Macarena
Serranía de la Macarena is an isolated mountain range located in the Meta Department, Colombia. It was named after the Virgin of Hope of Macarena. The mountains are separated by about at their northern extreme from the East Andes. The range ...
, Meta
Meta (from the Greek μετά, '' meta'', meaning "after" or "beyond") is a prefix meaning "more comprehensive" or "transcending".
In modern nomenclature, ''meta''- can also serve as a prefix meaning self-referential, as a field of study or ende ...
), the Czech Republic, Iran, Norway, United States (Nevada); Arenig of Argentina, Bolivia, China, France, Norway, Sweden, United States (Montana); Dawan of China; Arenigian of Argentina.[''Megistaspis'']
at Fossilworks
Fossilworks is a portal which provides query, download, and analysis tools to facilitate access to the Paleobiology Database
The Paleobiology Database is an online resource for information on the distribution and classification of fossil animals ...
.org
Gallery
File:Megistaspis (Ekeraspis) hammondi.JPG, ''Megistaspis hammondi'' at the Paleontology Museum of Zurich.
File:Megistaspis acuticauda.jpg, ''Megistaspis acuticauda'', gypsum replica.
File:Megistaspis species trilobite.jpg, ''Megistaspis'' sp.
References
External links
* Sepkoski, Jac
Sepkoski's Online Genus Database – Trilobita
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6809114
Asaphidae
Asaphida genera
Ordovician trilobites of Africa
Fezouata Formation fossils
Ordovician trilobites of Asia
Ordovician trilobites of Europe
Ordovician trilobites of North America
Ordovician United States
Ordovician trilobites of South America
Ordovician Argentina
Ordovician Bolivia
Ordovician Colombia
Cambrian first appearances
Silurian extinctions
Tremadocian
Fossil taxa described in 1956