Buenellus higginsi is an average size (about 5 centimetres or 2.0 inches) trilobite, which lived during the LowerCambrian period, in what is now North-West Greenland. It is a prominent member of the Sirius Passet fauna. Buenellus higginsi is the only known species in the genus Buenellus (i.e., the genus is monotypic).
The genus name is a contraction of Buen, from the formation in which it was first collected, and Olenellus, a somewhat related trilobite genus. The species specific epithet honors A. Higgins, who discovered the Sirius Passet Lagerstätte in 1984 during the Geological Survey of Greenland.
Descriptionedit
The general outline of the body is rounded n the front third, parallel sided in the middle third, and progressively tapering backwards in the back third, ending at an angle of approximately 45° with the midline. The headshield (or cephalon is approximately ⅝× as long as it is wide. The (in this case only slightly) vaulted central axis of the head or glabella tapers gently forward and does not reach the anterior margin. The outer backside of the cephalon (or genal angle) has short genal spines. The thorax has 17 or 18 articulating segments, maintaining width or widening slightly backwards up to the 8th segment, then tapering posteriorly. The posterior segment may be fused with the anterior part of a simple and small pygidium. Pleural spines are short, and the pleural regions are only slightly wider than the axis.[2][3]
Differences with other Nevadiidaeedit
The general shape of the body of other species in the Nevadid family (like Nevadia and Nevadella) is shorter, with the greatest width across the back of the cephalon, and the entire thorax tapering backwards.
Mineral-filled gut tracts in B. higginsi suggest they were not filled with sediment at the time of burial, and that the species was a predator of soft prey.
Healed injuries, some of which are the result of unsuccessful predaceous attacks, are not uncommon in B. higginsi. Carnivory on B. higginsi is also implied by the remains of anomalocaridids and other potential predators.[4]
Other exoskeletons show evidence of post-mortem disruption, perhaps because of scavenging. Buenellus higginsi, one of the earliest known trilobites from Laurentia, seems to have played an important role in the Sirius Passet ecosystem, serving both as predator on, and prey for, contemporary animals.[5]
Habitatedit
Buenellus higginsi was probably a marine bottom dweller, that lived in deeper water. This may be deduced from the dominance of eyeless forms and the absence of seaweeds at the collection site.[6]
Soft tissue preservationedit
Many specimens of B. higginsi show some form of exceptionally preserved, non-biomineralised tissue. Structures interpreted as alimentary tracts and probable digestive glands are commonly preserved. The slender antennas are rarely preserved.[5]
Referencesedit
^Lieberman, B.S. (1998). "Cladistic Analysis of the Early Cambrian Olenelloid Trilobites" (PDF). Journal of Paleontology. 72, part 1: 59–78. Bibcode:1998JPal...72...59L. doi:10.1017/S0022336000024021. S2CID 86307339.[permanent dead link]
^Mark R. Blaker & John S. Peel (1997). Lower Cambrian trilobites from North Greenland. Meddelelser om Grønland. Geoscience. Vol. 35. ISBN978-87-635-1241-1.
^H. B. Whittington; et al. (1997). "Introduction, Order Agnostida, Order Redlichiida". Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Part O, Revised. Trilobita.
^Loren E. Babcock (2002). Anatomy, paleoecology, and taphonomy of the trilobite Buenellus from the Sirius Passet biota (Cambrian), North Greenland. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting. Denver, Colorado. paper no. 75-8.
^ abLoren E. Babcock & John S. Peel (2003). "Palaeobiology, taphonomy and stratigraphic significance of the trilobite Buenellus from the Sirius Passet biota, Cambrian of North Greenland". Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists. 34: 401–418.
^John S. Peel & Martin Stein (2009). "A new arthropod from the Lower Cambrian Sirius Passet fossil-Lagerstätten of North Greenland" (PDF). Bulletin of Geosciences. 84 (4): 625–630. doi:10.3140/bull.geosci.1158.
External linksedit
Data related to Buenellus at Wikispecies
December 17, 2023
buenellus, higginsi, average, size, about, centimetres, inches, trilobite, which, lived, during, lower, cambrian, period, what, north, west, greenland, prominent, member, sirius, passet, fauna, higginsi, only, known, species, genus, genus, monotypic, higginsit. Buenellus higginsi is an average size about 5 centimetres or 2 0 inches trilobite which lived during the Lower Cambrian period in what is now North West Greenland It is a prominent member of the Sirius Passet fauna Buenellus higginsi is the only known species in the genus Buenellus i e the genus is monotypic Buenellus higginsiTemporal range Atdabanian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Buenellus higginsi fossils at the Geological Museum CopenhagenScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass TrilobitaOrder RedlichiidaSuborder OlenellinaSuperfamily Nevadioidea 1 Family Nevadiidae Genus BuenellusBlaker 1988Species B higginsiBinomial nameBuenellus higginsiBlaker 1988 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 2 1 Differences with other Nevadiidae 3 Distribution 4 Ecology 5 Habitat 6 Soft tissue preservation 7 References 8 External linksEtymology editThe genus name is a contraction of Buen from the formation in which it was first collected and Olenellus a somewhat related trilobite genus The species specific epithet honors A Higgins who discovered the Sirius Passet Lagerstatte in 1984 during the Geological Survey of Greenland Description editThe general outline of the body is rounded n the front third parallel sided in the middle third and progressively tapering backwards in the back third ending at an angle of approximately 45 with the midline The headshield or cephalon is approximately as long as it is wide The in this case only slightly vaulted central axis of the head or glabella tapers gently forward and does not reach the anterior margin The outer backside of the cephalon or genal angle has short genal spines The thorax has 17 or 18 articulating segments maintaining width or widening slightly backwards up to the 8th segment then tapering posteriorly The posterior segment may be fused with the anterior part of a simple and small pygidium Pleural spines are short and the pleural regions are only slightly wider than the axis 2 3 Differences with other Nevadiidae edit The general shape of the body of other species in the Nevadid family like Nevadia and Nevadella is shorter with the greatest width across the back of the cephalon and the entire thorax tapering backwards Distribution editBuenellus higginsi has been collected from early to middle Atdabanian deposits at the lower Buen Formation Nevadella Zone Sirius Passet lagerstatte at its junction with the J P Koch Fjord Peary Land Greenland 82 47 6 N 42 13 7 W 82 7933 N 42 2283 W 82 7933 42 2283 It has also been reported from Novaya Zemlya Russian Republic Ecology editMineral filled gut tracts in B higginsi suggest they were not filled with sediment at the time of burial and that the species was a predator of soft prey Healed injuries some of which are the result of unsuccessful predaceous attacks are not uncommon in B higginsi Carnivory on B higginsi is also implied by the remains of anomalocaridids and other potential predators 4 Other exoskeletons show evidence of post mortem disruption perhaps because of scavenging Buenellus higginsi one of the earliest known trilobites from Laurentia seems to have played an important role in the Sirius Passet ecosystem serving both as predator on and prey for contemporary animals 5 Habitat editBuenellus higginsi was probably a marine bottom dweller that lived in deeper water This may be deduced from the dominance of eyeless forms and the absence of seaweeds at the collection site 6 Soft tissue preservation editMany specimens of B higginsi show some form of exceptionally preserved non biomineralised tissue Structures interpreted as alimentary tracts and probable digestive glands are commonly preserved The slender antennas are rarely preserved 5 References edit Lieberman B S 1998 Cladistic Analysis of the Early Cambrian Olenelloid Trilobites PDF Journal of Paleontology 72 part 1 59 78 Bibcode 1998JPal 72 59L doi 10 1017 S0022336000024021 S2CID 86307339 permanent dead link Mark R Blaker amp John S Peel 1997 Lower Cambrian trilobites from North Greenland Meddelelser om Gronland Geoscience Vol 35 ISBN 978 87 635 1241 1 H B Whittington et al 1997 Introduction Order Agnostida Order Redlichiida Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology Part O Revised Trilobita Loren E Babcock 2002 Anatomy paleoecology and taphonomy of the trilobiteBuenellusfrom the Sirius Passet biota Cambrian North Greenland Geological Society of America Annual Meeting Denver Colorado paper no 75 8 a b Loren E Babcock amp John S Peel 2003 Palaeobiology taphonomy and stratigraphic significance of the trilobite Buenellus from the Sirius Passet biota Cambrian of North Greenland Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists 34 401 418 John S Peel amp Martin Stein 2009 A new arthropod from the Lower Cambrian Sirius Passet fossil Lagerstatten of North Greenland PDF Bulletin of Geosciences 84 4 625 630 doi 10 3140 bull geosci 1158 External links edit nbsp Data related to Buenellus at Wikispecies Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Buenellus amp oldid 1186441847, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
