Phacops

Abstract: X-ray studies of slates from Bundenbach and Wissenbach (Lower and Middle Devonian, West Germany) revealed a surprising amount of pyritized soft parts of cephalopods and trilobites. The tentacles of cephalopods, the appendages, the intestinal tract, and the structure of the interior of facet eyes of trilobites (Phacops species and Asteropyge species) were found in a well-preserved state.

Abstract: Esteve, J., Zamora, S., Gozalo, R. & Linan, E. 2010: Sphaeroidal enrolment in middle Cambrian solenopleuropsine trilobites. Lethaia, 10.1111/j.1502-3931.2009.00205.x Fifty specimens belonging to species of Solenopleuropsis and Pardailhania from Spain and France demonstrate sphaeroidal enrolment in Cambrian trilobites for the first time. These solenopleuropsines show novel coaptative structures in different regions of the exoskeleton: in the cephalon there are vincular furrows and notches; in the thorax an articulating facet is developed at the pleural margins, with a ball and socket connection on the adaxial most portion, and an articulating half-ring axially; the pygidium possesses an articulating facet. The interaction of these coaptative structures resulted in a sphaeroidal enrolment that was a progressive act from the first articulation between the occipital ring and the first segment to the pygidial articulating facet. A similar type of sphaeroidal enrolment is observed in the Devonian trilobite Phacops. Both Cambrian and Devonian trilobites developed a vincular furrow in the ventral surface of the cephalon to close their bodies tightly. In both cases, this is probably a convergent adaptation to protect against predators and obrution. Indeed, the enrolled trilobites are very common in obrution deposits restricted to shallow and soft muddy substrates. □Coaptative structures, convergence, Murero Formation, Pardailhania, Solenopleuropsinae, Solenopleuropsis.