The life attitude of the Silurian Trilobite Phacops musheni Salter 1864

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Abstract
Synopsis: Perfectly preserved material has been used in a study of the original life attitude of Phacops musheni Salter 1864, a Silurian phacopid trilobite. Data from previous functional studies are employed in elucidating the natural orientation of the cephalon; in lateral aspect this is the attitude in which the eye and the strip-like visual field are aligned horizontally. In this orientation the antero-lateral border rises towards the front and forms an ‘anterior arch’. The relationship of the thoracic segments and the pygidium to the whole exoskeleton is worked out with respect to the orientated cephalon. Reference is made to accurately prepared illustrations of the outstretched trilobite, showing the various components of the exoskeleton as seen from the side in their true angular orientation. Certain functional aspects of the extended exoskeleton are considered and it is suggested that this trilobite species led a vagrant benthonic existence.

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