Sphaeragnostus
Sphaeragnostus is an extinct genus from a well-known class of fossil marine arthropods, the trilobites. It can be recognized by having two thorax segments, a totally effaced headshield, while the tailshield although effaced, has a clear furrow parallel to its border, and a short, convex, subcircular axis. It lived during the Ordovician.
Taxonomy
It is difficult to relate Sphaeragnostus to other agnostids, and it is undecided whether this genus should be assigned to the Agnostoidea, the Condylopygoidea, or a new monotypic superfamily.
Distribution
S. similaris has been found in the Middle Ordovian of the Czech Republic.S. cingulatus is known from the Upper Ordovician of Sweden, Denmark, Poland and China.S. gaspensis was collected from the Upper Ordovician of Canada S. nudatus has been excavated from the Upper Ordovician of Kazakhstan.
Description
Like all Agnostida, Sphaeragnostus is diminutive and the cephalon and pygidium are of approximately the same size and outline. Like all Agnostina, Sphaeragnostus has only two thorax segments. The cephalon is externally totally effaced and lacks border furrows, axial furrows, and the glabellar node. The pleural regions of thorax segments are very small, while the axis is very wide and remarkably short. The pygidium has well-defined border furrows and narrow borders. Axial furrows define a short, broad, convex, subcircular, and unfurrowed axis, that bears both axial and terminal nodes. It lacks a median postaxial furrow. If there are spines on the ”rear corners” of the pygidium, these are minute.
Differences with Leiagnostus
Cephalons of Sphaeragnostus are extremely effaced and look much like Leiagnostus species. Pygidia of Sphaeragnostus however, differ from other highly effaced genera in a smooth but easily recognizable subcircular axis.