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Olenellus

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description Olenellus Overview

Olenellus is an extinct genus of early trilobite that lived during the Early Cambrian period. Fossils of this primitive arthropod are primarily located in North America and Greenland, where they define the Olenellus biozone of the lower Cambrian. Olenellus lacks facial sutures and features a large, crescent-shaped cephalon with prominent spines. Paleontologists use this index fossil to correlate the ages of sedimentary rock formations from the early Paleozoic era.

help Olenellus FAQ

When did Olenellus live?

Olenellus lived during the Early Cambrian period. It is an extinct trilobite genus associated with some of the earliest major marine arthropod faunas.

Where are Olenellus fossils found?

Olenellus fossils are especially associated with North America and Greenland. The genus helps define the Olenellus biozone in the lower Cambrian.

What is unusual about the Olenellus head shield?

Olenellus lacks facial sutures, grooves that split the trilobite head shield in many other trilobites. This feature helps distinguish it from several later trilobite groups.

Was Olenellus a dinosaur?

No, Olenellus was a trilobite, an extinct marine arthropod. It lived hundreds of millions of years before dinosaurs appeared.

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