''Prospectatrix'' is a genus of

trilobite Trilobites (; meaning "three lobes") are extinct marine arthropods that form the class Trilobita. Trilobites form one of the earliest-known groups of arthropods. The first appearance of trilobites in the fossil record defines the base of the At ...

s of average size, that lived in the Lower

Ordovician The Ordovician ( ) is a geologic period and System (geology), system, the second of six periods of the Paleozoic Era (geology), Era. The Ordovician spans 41.6 million years from the end of the Cambrian Period million years ago (Mya) to the start ...

and is probably ancestral to the other genera of the

Cyclopygidae Cyclopygidae is a family of asaphid trilobites from the Ordovician. Cyclopygids had aextratropical distribution, and there is evidence that they lived in darker parts of the water column (around 175m deep). Cyclopygids are characterized by en ...

family. Its eyes are only moderately enlarged and it has six or seven thorax segments.

Etymology

''Prospectatrix'' is derived from the Latin, meaning “early observer”, expressing that this genus was an early representative of the extremely well-sighted cyclopygids. The species epithet is derived from the Latin ''exquisita'', meaning excellent, refers to the well preserved type specimens.

Distribution

* ''P. genatenta'' occurs in the Lower Ordovician of the United Kingdom (Upper Tremadocian, ''Shumardia (Conophrys) salopiensis'' Zone, Shineton Shale, Shineton, Shropshire; ''Bergamia rushtoni'' biozone, Pontyfeni Formation, Whitland, Carmarthen District, Wales), Argentina (Tremadoc, Portezuelo de La Alumbrera Creek, Famatina Range, Upper Volcancito Formation, La Rioja). * ''P. exquisita'' has been found in the Lower Ordovician of northwest China (''Dichelepyge sinensis'' Zone, upper Torsuqtagh Group northeastern Tarim, Xinjiang). * ''P. brevior'' is known from the Lower Ordovician of the United Kingdom (Tremadocian, Skiddaw Group fauna, Lake District). * ''P. superciliata'' (synonym ''Pricyclopyge superciliata'') from the Lower Ordovician of Turkey.

References

Cyclopygidae Asaphida genera Ordovician trilobites Ordovician trilobites of Europe {{Asaphida-stub