Trilobitae


-Segmented animals with exoskeleton composed of chitin or calcium carbonate, with jointed limbs.

-Grow to length of 6-750mm by shedding exoskeleton and rapidly growing while new shell hardens.

-Body is divided into three main sections. The cephalon (head), thorax and pyguidium (tail), with classification of the order dependant on a disparite morphology of these parts.

-Limbs are only preserved in instances of exceptional preservation.

-Order became fully extinct at the Permo-Triassic boundary.

-Two genera of trilobite still around at the P-T boundary which became extinct.

-No suvivors to the Triassic mixed faunas.


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