Perspicaris

Perspicaris is a fossil arthropod from the Cambrian period. It was 2–3 centimetres (0.8–1.2 in) long and bivalved. The valves, encasing the thorax, were joined together by a dorsal hinge.

Perspicaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Genus:
Perspicaris

Briggs 1977
Species
  • P. recondita Briggs 1977
  • P. dictynna (type species, =Canadaspis dictynna Simonetta & Delle Cave 1975)[1]

It is difficult to establish the lifestyle of Perspicaris. Its large eyes and other parts would suggest a swimming animal, yet it lacks claws, which seems to suggest a bottom feeder.[2]

Two species of Perspicaris are found in the famous Burgess Shale in British Columbia, Canada. 202 specimens of Perspicaris are known from the Greater Phyllopod bed, where they comprise 0.38% of the community.[3]

  • "Perspicaris dictynna". Burgess Shale Fossil Gallery. Virtual Museum of Canada. 2011.

References
  1. Briggs, D.E.G. (1977). "Archived copy" (PDF). Palaeontology. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-24. Retrieved 2010-05-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. http://www.nmnh.si.edu/paleo/shale/pperspic.htm%5B%5D
  3. Caron, Jean-Bernard; Jackson, Donald A. (October 2006). "Taphonomy of the Greater Phyllopod Bed community, Burgess Shale". PALAIOS. 21 (5): 451–65. doi:10.2110/palo.2003.P05-070R. JSTOR 20173022.


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