Prospectatrix

Prospectatrix; Temporal range: Tremadocian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Trilobita
Order:	Asaphida
Superfamily:	Cyclopygoidea
Family:	Cyclopygidae
Genus:	Prospectatrix; Fortey, 1981
species
	P. genatenta (Stubblefield, 1927) (type) synonym Cyclopyge genatenta; P. exquisita Zhou,McNamara,Yuan & Zhang,1994; P. superciliata (Dean, 1973) synonym Pricyclopyge superciliata;

Prospectatrix is a genus of trilobite of average size, that lived in the Lower Ordovician and is probably ancestral to the other genera of the Cyclopygidae family. Its eyes are only moderately enlarged and it has six or seven thorax segments.

Etymology

Prospectatrix is derived from the Latin, meaning “early observer”, expressing that this genus was an early representative of the extremely well-sighted cyclopygids. The species epithet is derived from the Latin exquisita, meaning excellent, refers to the well preserved type specimens.

Distribution

P. genatenta occurs in the Lower Ordovician of the United Kingdom (Upper Tremadocian, Shumardia (Conophrys) salopiensis Zone, Shineton Shale, Shineton, Shropshire; Bergamia rushtoni biozone, Pontyfeni Formation, Whitland, Carmarthen District, Wales), Argentina (Tremadoc, Portezuelo de La Alumbrera Creek, Famatina Range, Upper Volcancito Formation, La Rioja).^[4]
P. exquisita has been found in the Lower Ordovician of northwest China (Dichelepyge sinensis Zone, upper Torsuqtagh Group northeastern Tarim, Xinjiang).
P. brevior is known from the Lower Ordovician of the United Kingdom (Tremadocian, Skiddaw Group fauna, Lake District).
P. superciliata from the Lower Ordovician of Turkey.

References

^ Fortey, R.A. (1981). "Prospectatrix genatenta (Stubblefield) and the trilobite superfamily Cyclopygacea". Geological Magazine. 118 (6): 603–614. doi:10.1017/s0016756800033835.
^ Zhou, Z.; McNamara, K.J.; Yuan, W.; Zhang, T. (1994). "Cyclopygid trilobites from the Ordovician of northeastern Tarim, Xinjiang, northwest China" (PDF). Records of the Western Australian Museum. 16 (4): 593–622. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
^ Dean, W.T. (1973). "The Lower Paleozoic stratigraphy and faunas of the Taurus Mountains near Beyşehir, Turkey. III. The trilobites of the Sobova Formation (Lower Ordovician)". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Geology. 24: 281–348. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
^ "Paleobiological Database". Retrieved 16 June 2013.

[1] Fortey, R.A. (1981). "Prospectatrix genatenta (Stubblefield) and the trilobite superfamily Cyclopygacea". Geological Magazine. 118 (6): 603–614. doi:10.1017/s0016756800033835.

[2] Zhou, Z.; McNamara, K.J.; Yuan, W.; Zhang, T. (1994). "Cyclopygid trilobites from the Ordovician of northeastern Tarim, Xinjiang, northwest China" (PDF). Records of the Western Australian Museum. 16 (4): 593–622. Retrieved 16 June 2013.

[3] Dean, W.T. (1973). "The Lower Paleozoic stratigraphy and faunas of the Taurus Mountains near Beyşehir, Turkey. III. The trilobites of the Sobova Formation (Lower Ordovician)". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Geology. 24: 281–348. Retrieved 16 June 2013.

[4] "Paleobiological Database". Retrieved 16 June 2013.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]