Emuellidae are a small family of trilobites, a group of extinctmarine arthropods, that lived during the late Lower Cambrian of the East Gondwanasupercontinent, in what are today South-Australia and Antarctica. Emuellidae can be recognized among trilobites in having a set of unique features. The headshield or cephalon has large genal spines reaching back as far as the 3rd to 6th segment of the thorax. The eye-ridges contact the back of the frontal lobe of the glabella and extend laterally and backwards, roughly parallel to the frontal and lateral rim of the cephalon. There are small, clearly incised pits at the junction between the eye-ridge and the frontal lobe of the cephalic axis. The thorax reaches its greatest width at the 6th segment. The frontal part or prothorax consists of 6 segments, with number 5 and 6 fused, and the 6th carrying very large trailing spines. The rear part or opistothorax consists of a variable but extremely large number of seqments.
Description
Cephalon: Cranidium subquadrate, glabella cylindrical, slightly contracted at S3, three pairs of glabellar furrows, preglabellar field short or absent, eye ridge wide, long, directed slightly postero-laterally, palpebral lobe cresentic, posterior area of fixigena with fulcrum, free cheeks with long spines; hypostome conterminant, attached to a narrow rostral plate. The thorax is divided into a prothorax of six segments. Pygidium: A minute, segmented disc.
Taxonomic history
Fossils now assigned to the Emuellidae were first discovered by Dr. B. Daily, of the Geology Department, University of Adelaide in 1956.
Position of the Emuellidae within the Redlichiida
Originally, the Emuellidae were described as part of the Redlichiina. The primitive features prompted the theory that the Emuellids actually represented the stem group of all trilobites, with the Olenellina having secondary fused facial sutures. Later, the Emuellidae were placed in their own superfamily, recognizing that trilobites lacking facial sutures are the stem group. This was followed by the clustering of the Emuellidae in a new superfamily Ellipsocephaloidea. Most recently, the Emuellidae are regarded an early branch of the Redlichiina suborder, the closest relatives being the generaBigotina, Abadiella, and the close-knit group of the families Estaingiidae, Ichangiidae and Ellipsocephalidae.
Genera assigned to the Emuellidae
Holyoakia has previously been assigned to the Emuellidae. The tailshiel in Holyoakia is about the same size as its cranidium, with a well-defined axis, eight axial rings, well-developed pleural ribs and furrows, and a spiny margin. The pygidia of Emuella and Balcoracania however are poorly differentiated, minute, and have a smooth margin. Later scholars therefore placed Holyoakia in the Dorypygidae.
Distribution
Balcoracania dailyi occurs in the late Lower Cambrian of South Australia. Balcoracania sp. has been collected from the Lower Cambrian of Antarctica. Emuella dalgarnoi is found in the late Lower Cambrian of South Australia. Emuella polymera has been collected from the late Lower Cambrian of South Australia.
