Ovatoryctocara
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| Ovatoryctocara Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | †Trilobita |
| Order: | †Corynexochida |
| Family: | †Oryctocephalidae |
| Genus: | †Ovatoryctocara Tchernysheva, 1962 |
| Species | |
| |
Ovatoryctocara is a genus of small corynexochid trilobites from the Cambrian, that lived in what now are Siberia, China, Greenland and Canada (Newfoundland). Ovatoryctocara can be recognised by the combination of the following characters: the central raised area of the cephalon (or glabella) is approximately cylindrical and has two rows of four triangular or round pits. The thorax only has 5 or 6 segments. The tailshield (or pygidium) has an axis (or rhachis) of 6 to 12 rings, the pleural furrows are well developed and the border is absent or narrow as a hair.[1] It is in the subfamily Oryctocarinae.[2]
The name of the genus is derived from its type Oryctocara ovata. Ovata refers to its oval overall shape, the Ancient Greek ὀρύκτης (oryctos) means "digger", and the Latin cara is a word for "head" or "face".
Biostratographic significance
The species of the genus Ovatoryctocara occur near the lower limit of the Middle Cambrian in Siberia. The first appearance datum (FAD) of Ovatoryctocara granulata was proposed as the defining marker for the lower limit of the Wuliuan. O. granulata is moderately widespread (East Siberia, South China, Greenland, and Newfoundland).[1]