| Lepidocoleus Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Subclass: | Errantia |
| Order: | Phyllodocida |
| Family: | † Lepidocoleidae |
| Genus: | †
Lepidocoleus Faber, 1886 |
| Species | |
| |
Lepidocoleus is a genus of extinct armored annelid worm in the class Machaeridia. Two notable species are L. caliburnus or the " Excalibur worm", and L. shurikenus, or the " shuriken worm". [1] The creature had a "suit" of armor running down its body in the form of overlapping calcite crystals. [1] This worm probably lived in shallow water reefs feeding on organic waste. [2] It lived from the Hirnantian of the upper Ordovician to the Famennian of the Devonian. [3]
Description
The worm is tiny, only about a fraction of an inch long. [1] The creatures had two pairs of armor plates on their body, one running the length of the skeleton, and the other on the sides of the body. [1] Because of this, the worm probably could have rolled into a ball like a Trilobite. [2]
References
- ^ a b c d "Fossils of 400-million-year-old 'Excalibur worm' discovered in Australia". Livescience.com. 2 December 2021.
- ^ a b Jacquet, Sarah M.; Selly, Tara; Schiffbauer, James D.; Brock, Glenn A. (2021). "Sclerite assembly, articulation and protective system of Lower Devonian machaeridians". Papers in Palaeontology. 8. doi: 10.1002/spp2.1410. S2CID 243825597.
- ^ "Lepidocoleus †". Mindat.org.
| Lepidocoleus Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
|
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Subclass: | Errantia |
| Order: | Phyllodocida |
| Family: | † Lepidocoleidae |
| Genus: | †
Lepidocoleus Faber, 1886 |
| Species | |
| |
Lepidocoleus is a genus of extinct armored annelid worm in the class Machaeridia. Two notable species are L. caliburnus or the " Excalibur worm", and L. shurikenus, or the " shuriken worm". [1] The creature had a "suit" of armor running down its body in the form of overlapping calcite crystals. [1] This worm probably lived in shallow water reefs feeding on organic waste. [2] It lived from the Hirnantian of the upper Ordovician to the Famennian of the Devonian. [3]
Description
The worm is tiny, only about a fraction of an inch long. [1] The creatures had two pairs of armor plates on their body, one running the length of the skeleton, and the other on the sides of the body. [1] Because of this, the worm probably could have rolled into a ball like a Trilobite. [2]
References
- ^ a b c d "Fossils of 400-million-year-old 'Excalibur worm' discovered in Australia". Livescience.com. 2 December 2021.
- ^ a b Jacquet, Sarah M.; Selly, Tara; Schiffbauer, James D.; Brock, Glenn A. (2021). "Sclerite assembly, articulation and protective system of Lower Devonian machaeridians". Papers in Palaeontology. 8. doi: 10.1002/spp2.1410. S2CID 243825597.
- ^ "Lepidocoleus †". Mindat.org.