Cyphaspis of Morocco
Order Proetida
Family Aulacopleuridae
Genus Cyphaspis
The genus Cyphaspis Burmeister, 1843 is a recognizable clade of relatively small trilobites with stalked eyes and an inflated glabella, often bearing pronounced genal spines and a thoracix dorsal spine on the sixth axial ring. Cyphaspis is fairly common in the Devonian of Morocco.
Family Aulacopleuridae
Genus Cyphaspis
The genus Cyphaspis Burmeister, 1843 is a recognizable clade of relatively small trilobites with stalked eyes and an inflated glabella, often bearing pronounced genal spines and a thoracix dorsal spine on the sixth axial ring. Cyphaspis is fairly common in the Devonian of Morocco.
Cyphaspis agayuara Chatterton et al, 2006 after the holotype. Drawing by F Lerouge.
Name: Cyphaspis eximia van Viersen & Holland, 2016
Stratigraphy: Eifelian
Locality: Oufatène
Cyphaspis eximia has four spiny tubercles crowded anteriorly on the glabella similar to the type species, Cyphaspis ceratophthalmus from the German Eifel, but they are clearly much more pronounced.
Stratigraphy: Eifelian
Locality: Oufatène
Cyphaspis eximia has four spiny tubercles crowded anteriorly on the glabella similar to the type species, Cyphaspis ceratophthalmus from the German Eifel, but they are clearly much more pronounced.
Name: Cyphaspis cf. kippingi Van Viersen & Holland, 2016
Stratigraphy: El Otfal formation, Emsian
Locality: Jebel Ofaten
This species closely resembles C. kippingi but is slighty younger, and shows a more inflated glabella, a narrower cephalic margin and smaller genal spines.
Stratigraphy: El Otfal formation, Emsian
Locality: Jebel Ofaten
This species closely resembles C. kippingi but is slighty younger, and shows a more inflated glabella, a narrower cephalic margin and smaller genal spines.
Name: Cyphaspis foumzguidensis Van Viersen & Holland 2016
Stratigraphy: Timrhanhart formation, Eifelian
Locality: Jebel Jethora
This small species of Cyphaspis lacks the typical dorsal spine on the sixth thoracic segment.
Stratigraphy: Timrhanhart formation, Eifelian
Locality: Jebel Jethora
This small species of Cyphaspis lacks the typical dorsal spine on the sixth thoracic segment.
|
|
Name: Cyphaspis heisingi van Viersen & Holland, 2016
Stratigraphy: Assa formation, Pragian
Locality: Mdâour el Kbîr
Cyphaspis heisingi was named after Horst Heising, an outstanding preparator of trilobites.
Stratigraphy: Assa formation, Pragian
Locality: Mdâour el Kbîr
Cyphaspis heisingi was named after Horst Heising, an outstanding preparator of trilobites.
Selected references
Chatterton B., Fortey R., Brett K., Gibb S., McKellar R. 2006. Trilobites from the upper Lower to Middle Devonian Timrhanrhart Formation, Jbel Gara el Zguilma, southern Morocco. Paleontographica Canadiana 25, 182pp.
Lerosey-Aubril, R., Feist, R., & Chatterton, B. D. E. (2008). The ontogeny and systematics of the otarionine trilobite Otarionella from the Devonian of the Montagne Noire, France and the Maider, Morocco. Geological Magazine, 145(1), 55–71. https://doi.org/10.1017/S001675680700386X
Viersen, A.P. van & Holland, D., 2016. Morphological trends and new species of Cyphaspis (Trilobita, Otarioninae) in the Devonian of Morocco, Turkey, Germany and Belgium. Geologica Belgica, 19: 251-271.
Van Viersen, A. P., & Prescher, H. (2014). “Devil horned” Cyphaspis (trilobita, otarioninae): Examples from the middle devonian of the ardennes (Belgium), eifel (Germany) and ma’der (Morocco). Geologica Belgica, 17(3–4), 268–275.
Chatterton B., Fortey R., Brett K., Gibb S., McKellar R. 2006. Trilobites from the upper Lower to Middle Devonian Timrhanrhart Formation, Jbel Gara el Zguilma, southern Morocco. Paleontographica Canadiana 25, 182pp.
Lerosey-Aubril, R., Feist, R., & Chatterton, B. D. E. (2008). The ontogeny and systematics of the otarionine trilobite Otarionella from the Devonian of the Montagne Noire, France and the Maider, Morocco. Geological Magazine, 145(1), 55–71. https://doi.org/10.1017/S001675680700386X
Viersen, A.P. van & Holland, D., 2016. Morphological trends and new species of Cyphaspis (Trilobita, Otarioninae) in the Devonian of Morocco, Turkey, Germany and Belgium. Geologica Belgica, 19: 251-271.
Van Viersen, A. P., & Prescher, H. (2014). “Devil horned” Cyphaspis (trilobita, otarioninae): Examples from the middle devonian of the ardennes (Belgium), eifel (Germany) and ma’der (Morocco). Geologica Belgica, 17(3–4), 268–275.