Trilobites
Order Redlichiida, Suborder Olenellina, Superfamily Fallotaspidoidea,
Family Fallotaspididae, Subfamily Fallotaspidinae
Geologic Age: Early Cambrian
Trilobite is 12 mm long
Hamar Waucobean Series, Montezuman Stage of the Fallotaspis Biozone
of the Campito Formation, Esmeralda County, Nevada
Remarks: Fortey (2000)
labels the genus Fallotaspis (Subfamily Fallotaspidinae) as
the oldest trilobites in the fossil record. As a result, the rather
large crescent holochroal
eyes seen here would be among the oldest of the sophisticated trilobite
eyes preserved in the fossil record. Also, being a member
Suborder Olenellina,
Fallotaspis did not have dorsal
sutures. This
trilobiteis is exceedingly rare, and the second oldest trilobite species
ever discovered from the ancient continent
of Laurentia (Hollingsworth,
2005), and consequently, the oldest American
trilobite. Scientist believe
it would be the progenitor of Eoredlichia and all of Family
Redlichiidae.
Also see: American
Trilobites
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