Enrolment and trunk segmentation of a Cambrian eodiscoid trilobite

• DOI: 10.1111/let.12327
• Publication Date: 2019-04-16T04:41:18Z
• Authors: Tao Dai; Xing-Liang Zhang; Shan-Chi Peng; Ben Yang
• Keywords: Trilobite

Completely enrolled, phosphatized, 3-D specimens of the eodiscinid trilobite Tsunyidiscus yanjiazhaiensis from Cambrian Stage 3 South China exhibit much morphological detail and show variation in delicate coaptative structures associated with their trunk segmentation. The relationship between enrolment mechanism segmentation during ontogeny confirms a unique developmental pattern among early eodiscoid trilobites, revealing how these animals controlled rate segment increase release post-embryonic development life cycles.