Lepidocoleus
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| Lepidocoleus Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Subclass: | Errantia |
| Order: | Phyllodocida |
| Family: | †Lepidocoleidae |
| Genus: | †Lepidocoleus Faber, 1886 |
| Species | |
| |
Lepidocoleus is a genus of extinct armored annelid worm in the class Machaeridia. Two notable species are L. caliburnus or the "Excalibur worm", and L. shurikenus, or the "shuriken worm".[1] The creature had a "suit" of armor running down its body in the form of overlapping calcite crystals.[1] This worm probably lived in shallow water reefs feeding on organic waste.[2] It lived from the Hirnantian of the upper Ordovician to the Famennian of the Devonian.[3]