Bristoliinae

The Bristoliinae is an extinct subfamily of trilobites, fossil marine arthropods, with species of small to average size. Species belonging to this subfamily lived during the Botomian and Toyonian stage (Olenellus-zone), 522-513 million years ago, in the former continent of Laurentia, including what are today Mexico, the Appalachian Mountains and the south-western United States, and Canada (Northwest Territories).[1]

Bristoliinae
Temporal range: late Lower Cambrian (Olenellus-zone) 522–513 Ma
Bristolia mohavensis, cephalon superimposed on a roled-up specimen
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Trilobita
Order:
Redlichiida
Suborder:
Olenellina
Superfamily:
Olenelloidea
Family:
Biceratopsidae
Subfamily:
Bristoliinae

Harrington, 1956
Genera

Etymology

The Bristoliinae are named for the type species Bristolia bristolensis.

Description

The headshield (or cephalon) carries spines (called genal spines) of approximately 4-8 thorax segments long (measured parallel to the midline). The genal spines are attached in front of the back of the headshield. The central raised portion of the cephalon that represents the axis in the cephalon (or glabella) touches the flattened ledge that borders the cephalon. The furrows that separate border, eye ridges, glabella and its lobes are distinct.[1][2]

Communalities and differences with Biceratopsinae

The Bristolinae can be distinguished from its sister subfamily the Biceratopsinae that has effaced cephalic features (no furrows except for the burder furrow).[1]

Distribution

All Bristoliinae occur in the late Lower Cambrian (Olenellus-zone) of the former paleocontinent Laurentia. Fremontella halli is known from eastern Laurentia (Rome Formation, Alabama, USA). All other species are known from western Laurentia: Lochmanolenellus mexicana from northern Mexico and South-East California, the species of Bristolia from southeastern California and southern Nevada, and an undescribed Bristolia-species from the North-West Territories, Canada.[1]

Habitat

The Bristolinae were probably marine bottom dwellers, like all Olenellina.

References
  1. Lieberman, B.S. (1999). "Systematic Revision of the Olenelloidea (Trilobita, Cambrian)" (PDF). Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History. 45.
  2. Lieberman, B.S. (1998). "Cladistic Analysis of the Early Cambrian Olenelloid Trilobites" (PDF). Journal of Paleontology. 72 (1): 59–78. doi:10.1017/S0022336000024021.


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