Ptychopariida

Westergaardites pelturaeformis

Order Ptychopariida / Suborder Olenina / Family Olenidae

Stage 10 (Furongian, Cambrian)Xinjiang

Westergaardites pelturaeformis — photo 1 — Photo 1 · Holotype (unique specimen) (Xinjiang; left: Yang Qun 2017; right: Peng 2020) Complete dorsal exoskeleton (Xinjiang; Guapi)

Westergaardites pelturaeformis — photo 2 — Photo 2 · Holotype (unique specimen) (Xinjiang; left: Yang Qun 2017; right: Peng 2020) Complete dorsal exoskeleton (Xinjiang; Guapi)

Westergaardites pelturaeformis — photo 3 — Photo 3 · Holotype (unique specimen) (Xinjiang; left: Yang Qun 2017; right: Peng 2020) Complete dorsal exoskeleton (Xinjiang; Guapi)

Classification

Order Ptychopariida / Suborder Olenina / Family Olenidae

Genus

Westergaardites Troedsson, 1937

Genus author

Troedsson G. T.

Genus etymology

Westergaard, a surname

Species

W. pelturaeformis Troedsson, 1937

Species author

Troedsson G. T.

Species etymology

pelt-, Greek, shield; urae, tail; -formis, -shaped, -like

Age

Stage 10 (Furongian, Cambrian)

Distribution

Xinjiang

Diagnosis

Dorsal shield narrow and long. Cranidium subtrapezoidal; glabella large, barrel-shaped; 4 pairs of glabellar furrows, S1 and S2 broad V-shaped; preglabellar field absent; anterior border a fine ridge; palpebral lobes small; eye ridges short; anterior branches of facial sutures short, posterior branches long. Thorax of 19 segments; axis wide, each axial ring with a small short axial spine; pleurae narrow, about half the axial width, pleural spines claw-like. Pygidium small, with 3 pairs of short pygidial spines.

Remarks

This species is the type species of the genus Westergaardites.