Lichida

Metopolichas platyrhinus

Order Lichida / Family Lichidae

Darriwilian (Middle Ordovician)Russia

Metopolichas platyrhinus — photo 1 — Photo 1 · Complete dorsal exoskeleton Early specimen (Russia; Bruton et al., 2001) (Russia; Li Nan) Complete dorsal exoskeleton (Russia; Baiya)

Metopolichas platyrhinus — photo 2 — Photo 2 · Complete dorsal exoskeleton Early specimen (Russia; Bruton et al., 2001) (Russia; Li Nan) Complete dorsal exoskeleton (Russia; Baiya)

Metopolichas platyrhinus — photo 3 — Photo 3 · Complete dorsal exoskeleton Early specimen (Russia; Bruton et al., 2001) (Russia; Li Nan) Complete dorsal exoskeleton (Russia; Baiya)

Metopolichas platyrhinus — photo 4 — Photo 4 · Complete dorsal exoskeleton Early specimen (Russia; Bruton et al., 2001) (Russia; Li Nan) Complete dorsal exoskeleton (Russia; Baiya)

Metopolichas platyrhinus — photo 5 — Photo 5 · Complete dorsal exoskeleton Early specimen (Russia; Bruton et al., 2001) (Russia; Li Nan) Complete dorsal exoskeleton (Russia; Baiya)

Metopolichas platyrhinus — photo 6 — Photo 6 · Complete dorsal exoskeleton Early specimen (Russia; Bruton et al., 2001) (Russia; Li Nan) Complete dorsal exoskeleton (Russia; Baiya)

Classification

Order Lichida / Family Lichidae

Genus

Metopolichas Gürich, 1901

Genus author

Gürich G.

Genus etymology

metop-, metopion, glabella, forehead; Lichas, a trilobite genus name

Species

M. platyrhinus (Schmidt, 1907)

Species author

Schmidt F.

Species etymology

platy-, Greek, broad, wide; rhin-, nose

Age

Darriwilian (Middle Ordovician)

Distribution

Russia

Synonyms

Lichas platyrhinus

Diagnosis

Dorsal shield with fine dense nodes. Cephalon triangular; glabella protruding forward like a duck's bill; two pairs of glabellar furrows; eyes small; librigenal genal spines short and blunt. Thorax of 11 segments; axis sub- equal in width to pleurae; pleural furrows distinct; pleural spines blunt. Pygidium large; axis of two axial rings and a terminal piece; 3 pairs of pleural segments, each with a pleural furrow.

Remarks

Commonly known as the "platypus trilobite"