''Selenopeltis'' () is an

extinct Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of odontopleurid trilobites in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Odontopleuridae.

Species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

in the

''Selenopeltis'' can reach a length of and a width of . These trilobites show long pleural spines and were a low-level

epifauna Fauna is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is ''flora'', and for fungi, it is ''funga''. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively referred to as '' biota''. Zool ...

detritivore Detritivores (also known as detrivores, detritophages, detritus feeders, or detritus eaters) are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus (decomposing plant and animal parts as well as feces). There are many kinds of invertebrates, ...

. They lived in the

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 ...

period, from the Lower Arenig stage age until the

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

age (478.6-443.7 million years ago).

Distribution

During the Ordovician they inhabited Czech Republic, France, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. During the Arenig they lived in France and the UK.

Gallery

Trilobites - Solenopeltis buchi vultuosa.JPG, ''Selenopeltis buchi vultuosa'' from

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...

at the

National Museum (Prague) The National Museum (NM) (Czech: ''Národní muzeum'') is a Czech museum institution intended to systematically establish, prepare, and publicly exhibit natural scientific and historical collections. It was founded in 1818 by Kašpar Maria Štern ...

File:Trilobite Selenopeltis buchii.jpg, ''Selenopeltis buchi'' trilobites (and a smaller '' Dalmanatina'') from Mount Boutschrafin, Morocco. File:Selenopeltis buchii 01.jpg, ''Selenopeltis buchi'' at Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe, Germany

Sources

S. buchii at Fossilmuseum

External links

''Selenopeltis''
in the

Paleobiology Database The Paleobiology Database is an online resource for information on the distribution and classification of fossil animals, plants, and microorganisms. History The Paleobiology Database (PBDB) originated in the NCEAS-funded Phanerozoic Marine Pale ...

*Sepkoski, Jac
Sepkoski's Online Genus Database – Trilobita
Odontopleuridae Odontopleurida genera Ordovician trilobites of Europe Fossils of the Czech Republic Letná Formation Trilobites of Africa Fezouata Formation fossils {{Odontopleurida-stub