Not that I want to jinx anything, but it looks like we have a few weeks of mild weather to look forward to, with possibly Sunday my first post-winter return to the field. It will be another engagement with the Amherstburg Fm material, but I have been quietly developing plans for new prospects. In trilobite news, with the very recent publication of Bignon et al.'s paper, there are now 14 Orders of trilobites: Agnostida SALTER 1864 Asaphida SALTER 1864 Aulacopleurida ADRAIN 2011 Corynexochida KOBAYASHI 1934 Eodiscida KOBAYASHI 1939 Harpetida WHITTINGTON 1959 Lichida MOORE 1959 Odontopleurida WHITTINGTON 1959 Olenida ADRAIN 2011 Phacopida SALTER 1864 Proetida FORTEY & OWENS 1975 Ptychopariida SWINNERTON 1915 Redlichiida RICHTER 1932 Trinucleida BIGNON et al 2020** The Trinucleida were once a superfamily in the Asaphida, but have now been elevated to full Order status. And, to be honest, comparing the appearance of Trinucleids and Asaphids, they seemed an odd match insofar as they appear to differ more than they appear similar. All that being said, I'll need to revise my trilobite gallery to reflect this (and about three other Orders I've been too absent-minded to add) -- something for a rainy day. For now, another drawing: I also experimented with some mid-tone paper, but just a really quick sketch: So that one is just a draft for now, flagged for redoing it properly. And this Moroccan phacopid came in the mail. I actually did not have an example of Zlichovaspis rugosa, and the price was too good to pass up. The quick snap of the bug hardly does it justice in terms of its impressive size. This is not a premium prepared bug -- visible scribe marks and a coating to hide a few mistakes is pretty customary for a B-grade bug, but even those can command high prices. In this case, I got it for a very good deal.
I am just more excited at the moment about getting back out into the field. The snows are quickly receding. I've been digging into Stauffer's 1915 text on the section featuring the Amherstburg/Onandaga material, which seems to be the most comprehensive I've seen in terms of a faunal list (albeit a number of those taxonomic designations have been revised significantly!). And, with just four more weeks of classes, serious field time cometh! Hopefully I'll make out okay this Sunday to post some finds. Until then... Comments are closed.
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Kane Faucher
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February 2024
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