" Furca " mauretanica
Phylum Arthropoda, Class Marrellomorpha
Geological Time: Lower Ordovician
Size: Fossil is 40 mm by 45 mm on a 100 mm by 100 mm and 32 mm by 22 mm on a 60 mm by 37 mm matrix pair
Fossil Site: Upper Fezouata Formation, Zagora, Morocco
Code: 16123
Price: Sold
 Description:
This is a fine example of an Ordovician marellomorph known thus
far as Furca mauretanica. The Marellomorpha are a small group of
rare, primitive arthropods. The order was named after the Burgess
Shale genus Marella (see
my other offerings) and also includes
Mimetaster (again,
see my other specimens). The genus was first known from specimens
found in Bohemia (Furca bohemica). In 2004
a new species was been found in the Upper Fezouata Formation deposits
near Zagora, Morocco. The cuticle of specimens is typically preserved
as a deep red or reddish-brown mineralization. Most specimens consist
primarily of the cephalic shield and a trunk would project out
between the posterior pair of extensions. Very few examples are
offered, but new ones occasionally come to light. When this one
was found several details not often seen were also observed: several
pairs of walking limbs. The specimen split unevenly, with the posterior
portion completely buried within the matrix. I asked if it could
be resplit to expose the abdomen, but was told with this type of
matrix such an attempt would be doomed to failure. It was with
some trepidation that I requested that the lower half of the one
side be sacrificed to have at least one half of the specimen completely
exposed. This was done with great skill, affording the specimen
seen here. I have been advised by the describer of the taxon that
it will most likely be placed in a different genus, hence the quotation
marks around the current genus.
Reference: PhD Thesis of Peter Van Roy, University of Ghent, July 2006, pp 63-86. |
