''Acastocephala'' is a
genus of
trilobite from the middle
Silurian
The Silurian ( ) is a geologic period and system spanning 24.6 million years from the end of the Ordovician Period, at million years ago ( Mya), to the beginning of the Devonian Period, Mya. The Silurian is the shortest period of the Paleozo ...
, known from the United Kingdom.
Etymology
The name is derived from the genus ''
Acaste
Acaste (; Ancient Greek: Ἀκάστη) was the name of two figures in Greek mythology.
* Acaste, one of the Oceanids. She was among the companions of Persephone when Persephone was abducted by Hades.
* Acaste, the nurse of the daughters of king ...
'' and the
Ancient Greek κεφαλή (kephalē) "head", indicating the headshield is similar to ''Acaste''.
Taxonomy
''Acastocephala'' may contain the ancestor of ''
Acastava''.
Distribution
* ''A. macrops'' occurs in the Middle Silurian of the United Kingdom (
Wenlock Shale
The Buildwas Formation (''Bw'', ''BUI''), formerly called Wenlock Shale and Buildwas Beds, is a geologic formation in Shropshire, England. It preserves fossils dating back to the Silurian period. The formation is the defining formation of the She ...
,
Malvern, Worcestershire; Wenlock Limestone,
Pen-y-Lan, Cardiff, and
Dudley and Ludlow,
Ledbury
Ledbury is a market town and civil parish in the county of Herefordshire, England, lying east of Hereford, and west of the Malvern Hills.
It has a significant number of timber-framed structures, in particular along Church Lane and High Street ...
, Hereford).
* ''A. dudleyensis'' has been found in the Middle Silurian of the United Kingdom (Wenlock Limestone,
Wren's Nest, Dudley, Worcestershire).
References
External links
Wenlock Trilobite ''Acastocephala'' - Fossilmuseum.net
Acastidae
Silurian trilobites of Europe
Fossils of Great Britain
Fossils of England
Fossils of Wales
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