description Pterygometopus Overview
Pterygometopus is a genus of trilobites in the family Pterygometopidae, known from Ordovician and Silurian fossil strata. Its cephalon is distinguished by broad lateral expansions of the fixigenae, the fixed cheek regions beside the glabella. Fossils attributed to the genus are especially associated with European geological records, making it a subject of study in the taxonomy and paleoecology of phacopid trilobites.
help Pterygometopus FAQ
What is Pterygometopus?
Pterygometopus is an extinct genus of trilobites in the family Pterygometopidae. Fossils attributed to it are known from Ordovician and Silurian strata.
What did Pterygometopus look like?
Its cephalon had broad lateral expansions of the fixigenae, the fixed cheek regions beside the glabella. These cheek extensions are a key feature used when discussing the genus.
When did Pterygometopus live?
Pterygometopus is reported from both the Ordovician and Silurian periods. That places it in marine ecosystems spanning a substantial part of the later Paleozoic trilobite record.
What are fixigenae in Pterygometopus?
The fixigenae are the fixed cheek areas of a trilobite's head shield, positioned beside the central glabella. In Pterygometopus, these regions expanded broadly toward the sides.
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