Selenopeltis
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''Selenopeltis'' () is an extinct
genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
of odontopleurid trilobites in the
family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
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
genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
''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 ...
l detritivore. They lived in the
Ordovician 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. T ...
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. ...
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 Šte ...
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