description Cyphaspis Overview
Cyphaspis is a Devonian trilobite genus in the proetid family Otarionidae. It is recognized by pedunculate eyes and spiny, granulate ornamentation, features that give many specimens a strongly textured appearance. The genus was described by Frederick McCoy in 1849 and is especially familiar in discussions of Devonian proetid trilobites, including material from Morocco. It is suited to collectors and students examining small, ornamented trilobite forms.
help Cyphaspis FAQ
What is distinctive about Cyphaspis trilobites?
Cyphaspis is known for pedunculate eyes, meaning the eyes were raised on stalk-like supports. Many specimens also show spiny and granulate ornamentation that gives the exoskeleton a strongly textured appearance.
When did Cyphaspis live?
Cyphaspis is a Devonian trilobite genus. The Devonian Period lasted from about 419 to 359 million years ago.
Who described Cyphaspis?
The genus was described by the Irish naturalist Frederick McCoy in 1849. It is placed in the proetid family Otarionidae.
Why do Cyphaspis fossils often look unusually spiky?
Their exoskeleton commonly carries spines and granular surface ornamentation. Those features are genuine morphological traits of the genus rather than damage caused by fossilization.
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