Ventral exoskeletal morphology of the trilobite Neodrepanura premesnili from the Cambrian Kushan formation, Shandong, China

Abstract

The polymerid trilobite Neodrepanura (family Damesellidae) is one of the most famous and abundant fossils from the Kushan Formation (Cambrian) of the North China Platform. Recent discovery of the first known complete exoskeleton of Neodrepanura premesnili, together with additional material, allows further description of the butterfly-shaped hypostome and wide doublure in this species. These new materials suggest that N. premesnili had a carnivorous feeding habit.