Enigmatic Psychopyge Species Trilobite

Description: This trilobite is a member of the Order Phacopida, Family Acastidae from the Devonian deposits of Foum Ziguid, Morocco. To me it represents some features of several described tax, but corresponds directly to none. While it has the shortened central pygidial spine of Psychopyge elegans, it lacks the distinctive “step” at the base of the rostrum, and most of that species are from Issoumour. It does not have the elongated central pygidial spine of Psychopyge termierorum, the deeply notched rostrum of Psychopyge praestans, or the fine notch of P hammerorum. Let’s just call it Psychopyge sp. to be safe. Perhaps in the future a more complete assignment will be possible.

Reference: Palaeontographica Canadiana, No. 25, 2006, pp 31-33 and 112-117.