TRILOBITES

EMUELLA FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Hi!, I'm Dave, a fossil collector in Australia.

My main interests are Trilobites from the Lower Cambrian deposits of South Australia : Redlichia takooensis, Estaingia bilobata /Xystridura, ( Estaingia bilobata were previously classified as Hsuaspis bilobata ) Holyoakia simpsoni. and Emuellidae . The latter is the one I've mainly studied over the past few years.

They were first described by Dr. B Daily, of the Geology Department, University of Adelaide in 1956.

The Emuellidae Family has been divided into 4 Genera ; Balcoracania dailyi, Emuella dalgarnoi, Emuella polymera (from Cape D'Estaing, Kangaroo Island), and Balcoracania flindersi from Flinders Ranges, South Australia.)

The Kangaroo Island localities ( now a fossil reserve) occur in sections on each side of Cape D'Estaing. (Balcoracania dailyi also occur in the Big Gully assemblage)

On the Eastern side of Cape D'Estaing, near the top of the White Point Conglomerate, the shale contain Emuella dalgarnoi and Balcoracania dailyi. (Disarticulated moults only)

However, one complete specimen of B.dailyi was collected from the Hsuaspis bilobata beds in the Emu Bay Shale, eastern side of Cape D' Estaing.

West of the Cape, the shales contain Emuella polymera and then Balcoracania dailyi occurs in the overlying 20m of the Fossiliferous beds. It is from these beds that the more complete specimens can be found, both Adult and Larval stages.

It is quite difficult to distinguish all 4 Genera as all have very little differences between them. They all share the same general make-up, with only slight differences in cranidium, sutures, in width of the thoraxial axis, and in pleural furrow. All have similar hypostome with depressed anterior wings.

In general, the Trilobites feature primitive characteristics. Long curved eye lobes, widely separated from the Glabella, and detachable cheek / Genal spines. The thorax is divided into two by the Macropleural spine - this is the 5th Segment fused to the 6th, which are extended into spines.

The Emuellidae bear similarities to certain of the Olenellidae and Redlichiidae. The Emuellidae share with the Olenellidae the division of the thorax, and macropleurality; they differ in the number of segments and the fusion of prothoracic segments, and with regard to cephalic features in the possession of a complete set of functional sutures. The cephalic features are similar to those of some of the families of the Redlichiina, but the latter lack the characteristic thorax of the Emuellidae.

The Opisthothorax in the Adult can have up to 61 Segments in B. dailyi, (accounting for half the total length of the Trilobite), ending in a very small Pygidium. This section seemed to have been quite flexible.

Their sizes range from 1mm, in the Larval stage, to approximately 22mm ( with exception of the Big Gully specimens) in an Adult B. dailyi. E. polymera, E dalgarnoi and B. flindersi are seemingly quite a bit smaller, growing to approximately 15 - 20mm.

I am down-sizing my collection to mainly this material, hence I am offering some of my other Fossil Specimens for sale.

The Trilobites and other Fossils were hand picked over the years to be as natural as possible, with little or no restoration work to them.

Please E.Mail me for further information if you are interested in any of these specimens.

CHEIRURID Leviceraurus mammilloides hessin. Hillier member, Cobourg formation. St.Marys cement quarry. Bowmanville,Ontario. Canada. Upper Ordovician. The plate measures 120mm. x 100mm. The Trilobite is 44mm. long. SOLD

BOLASPIDELLA SP. Marjum formation, Millard Co. Utah. U.S.A. (House range ) Middle Cambrian. The Trilobite is 9 mm. long. $50 Aus. ( $27 US. ) SOLD

Double Trilobite Plate : Olenellus gilberti and Olenellus fowleri. Pioche Shales, Panaca, Nevada, U.S.A. Lower Cambrian. $250 Aus. ($200 US. )

CHANGASPIS PLACENTA : Guizhou, China. Cambrian. The Trilobite is 8 mm. long. $50 Aus. ( $27 US.)

ODONTOPLEURA MARKHAMI : Cotton formation, Cotton Hill Quarry, Forbes, New South Wales, Australia. Lower Silurian. The trilobite is 14mm. long. $120 Aus. ( $65US.)

ODONTOPLEURA MARKHAMI : Cotton formation, Cotton Hill Quarry, Forbes, New South Wales, Australia. Lower Silurian. The trilobite is 11mm. long. $90 Aus. ( $48 US.)

SHARK TOOTH ( Auriculatus megalodon ) Beauford County. South Carolina. U.S.A. Miocene. $220 Aus ($120 US.) This is an excellent example of this species. (Ancestor of the Great White). It has good serrations and burlette, and is almost perfectly symmetrical. It measures 92mm ( 3 9/16" ).

ODONTOPLEURA MARKHAMI : Cotton formation, Cotton Hill Quarry, Forbes, New South Wales, Australia. Lower Silurian. The trilobite is 9mm. long. $90 Aus. ($48 US.)

ODONTOPLEURA MARKHAMI : Cotton formation, Cotton Hill Quarry, Forbes, New South Wales, Australia. Lower Silurian. The trilobite is 10mm. long. $90 Aus. ($48 US.)

AULACOPLEURA POGSONI : Cotton formation, Cotton Hill Quarry, Forbes, New South Wales, Australia. Lower Silurian. The trilobite is 8mm. long. $90 Aus. ($48US.)

THALASSINA ANOMALA (ARTHROPOD) : Gunn's Point, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Pleistocene. This specimen is 90mm long. $50 Aus. ($27US.)