description Asteropyge Overview
Asteropyge is a Devonian trilobite genus in the asteropygid group of the order Phacopida. Its most distinctive features are prominent lateral and posterior spines on the pygidium, which extend the rear outline of the exoskeleton. Fossils attributed to Asteropyge are reported from Europe, North Africa, and Asia, making the genus relevant to comparisons among Devonian faunas from different regions and to collectors interested in spiny trilobites.
help Asteropyge FAQ
What is Asteropyge?
Asteropyge is a Devonian trilobite genus in the asteropygid group of the order Phacopida. Fossils attributed to the genus are associated with Devonian marine rocks.
What makes Asteropyge easy to recognize?
Its pygidium, or tail shield, has prominent lateral and posterior spines that extend the rear outline of the exoskeleton. Those spines are more useful for recognition than the common name alone.
Was Asteropyge a fish or a shellfish?
Asteropyge was a trilobite, an extinct marine arthropod, not a fish or modern shellfish. Trilobites lived in the Paleozoic Era and became extinct at the end-Permian mass extinction.
Which part of Asteropyge is the pygidium?
The pygidium is the fused rear section of a trilobite’s exoskeleton. In Asteropyge, it is especially distinctive because of its strong side and rear spines.
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