Illaenus tauricornis is a species of trilobites from Russia and Morocco, from the middle Ordovician.

Illaenus tauricornis
Temporal range: Middle Ordovician
Illaenus tauricornis from Russia. On display at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Trilobita
Order: Corynexochida
Family: Illaenidae
Genus: Illaenus
Species:
I. tauricornis
Binomial name
Illaenus tauricornis
(Kutorga 1848)[1]

Etymology

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The Latin species name tauricornis means "bull-horned", with reference to the shape of the genal spines.

Description

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Illaenus tauricornis can reach a length of about 57 millimetres (2.2 in). These trilobites are without glabella and without articulation of the tail. The cephalon has a high profile and recurved genal spines. Eyes are distant from the axis of the head, situated nearer to the edge. Usually the cephalon is contracted, due to the contraction of the muscles during the fossilization.[2][3]

References

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