Olenelloides
Olenelloides armatus is an extinct, small sized (about long) olenelloid redlichiid trilobite arthropod. It lived during the later part of the Botomian stage, which lasted from approximately 524 to 518.5 million years ago. This faunal stage was part of the Cambrian Period. The most conspicuous feature is the hexagonal head shield that carries 6 ray-like spines.. Etymology The genus is named after its originally supposed close relationship with Olenellus. The species epithet , a Latin adjective meaning 'armoured', is a reference to the fierce looking spines of the head shield. Occurrence Olenelloides armatus lived during the late Lower Cambrian deposits presumably contemporary with the middle Olenellus-zone (Wanneria subzone), that probably represents the late Botomian, approximately between 519 and 516 million years ago. Distribution Olenelloides armatus has been collected from the Fucoid Beds, Northern slopes of the Meall a'Ghiubhais, County Ross and Cromarty, Scotland, UK. Description As with most early trilobites, Olenelloides has an almost flat exoskeleton, that is only thinly calcified, and has crescent-shaped eye ridges. As part of the Olenellina suborder, Olenelloides lacks dorsal sutures. Like all other members of the Olenelloidea superfamily, the eye-ridges spring from the back of the frontal lobe (L4) of the central area of