Lichida

Terataspis grandis

Order Lichida / Family Lichidae

Pragian (Early Devonian) to Eifelian (Middle Devonian)USA, Canada

Terataspis grandis — photo 1 — Photo 1 · Holotype NYSM 4543 (USA; Thomas et al., 1988) Literature specimen Sketch of the hypostome (USA; Ludvigsen 1979) (Whitfield 1897) Librigena equivalent to an individual of 58 cm (USA; Whiteley et al., Restoration model (Reimann 2002) 1945)

Terataspis grandis — photo 2 — Photo 2 · Holotype NYSM 4543 (USA; Thomas et al., 1988) Literature specimen Sketch of the hypostome (USA; Ludvigsen 1979) (Whitfield 1897) Librigena equivalent to an individual of 58 cm (USA; Whiteley et al., Restoration model (Reimann 2002) 1945)

Terataspis grandis — photo 3 — Photo 3 · Holotype NYSM 4543 (USA; Thomas et al., 1988) Literature specimen Sketch of the hypostome (USA; Ludvigsen 1979) (Whitfield 1897) Librigena equivalent to an individual of 58 cm (USA; Whiteley et al., Restoration model (Reimann 2002) 1945)

Terataspis grandis — photo 4 — Photo 4 · Holotype NYSM 4543 (USA; Thomas et al., 1988) Literature specimen Sketch of the hypostome (USA; Ludvigsen 1979) (Whitfield 1897) Librigena equivalent to an individual of 58 cm (USA; Whiteley et al., Restoration model (Reimann 2002) 1945)

Terataspis grandis — photo 5 — Photo 5 · Holotype NYSM 4543 (USA; Thomas et al., 1988) Literature specimen Sketch of the hypostome (USA; Ludvigsen 1979) (Whitfield 1897) Librigena equivalent to an individual of 58 cm (USA; Whiteley et al., Restoration model (Reimann 2002) 1945)

Terataspis grandis — photo 6 — Photo 6 · Holotype NYSM 4543 (USA; Thomas et al., 1988) Literature specimen Sketch of the hypostome (USA; Ludvigsen 1979) (Whitfield 1897) Librigena equivalent to an individual of 58 cm (USA; Whiteley et al., Restoration model (Reimann 2002) 1945)

Classification

Order Lichida / Family Lichidae

Genus

Terataspis Hall, 1863

Genus author

Hall J.

Genus etymology

terat-, Greek, monster; aspis, Greek, shield

Species

T. grandis (Hall, 1861)

Species author

Hall J.

Species etymology

grandis, large, adult

Age

Pragian (Early Devonian) to Eifelian (Middle Devonian)

Distribution

USA, Canada

Synonyms

Lichas grandis; Lichas superbus; Acidaspis (Terataspis) grandis

Diagnosis

Dorsal shield entirely covered with spines and nodes of varying size. Anterior glabellar lobe raised spherically; palpebral lobes rather small; librigenal genal spines stout. Thorax of about 11 segments; axis wide and large; pleural segments narrow, pleural spines subequal in width to the pleurae, slender-conical, surface with small spinules; pygidium large; axis of two rings plus a terminal piece; four pairs of long, barbed marginal spines.

Remarks

This species is the type species of the genus Terataspis and is among the largest trilobites, with restored individuals reaching about 60 cm.