Asaphiscus


Asaphiscus is a genus of trilobite that lived in the Cambrian. Its remains have been found in Australia and North America, especially in Utah.

Distribution

Asaphiscus are average size trilobites of with a rather flat calcified dorsal exoskeleton of inverted egg-shaped outline, about 1½× longer than wide, with the widest point near the back of the headshield. The cephalon is about 40% of the body length, is semi-circular in shape, has wide rounded genal angles, and a well defined border of about ⅛× the length of the cephalon. The central raised area of the cephalon has 7-11 segments, with rounded tips. The tailshield is about 30% of the body length, is semi-circular in shape, with a wide flat border, and an entire margin.

Reassigned species

Some species originally described as belonging to Asaphiscus have later been reassigned to other genera.