Aglaspis

Aglaspis is a genus of extinct trilobites belonging to the order Agnostida. These small, cosmopolitan marine arthropods lived during the Cambrian period, approximately 520 to 490 million years ago. Aglaspis is characterized by its diminutive size, typically less than 1 cm in length, and a smooth, unornamented exoskeleton. The cephalon (head shield) and pygidium (tail shield) are subequal in size and shape, a defining feature of agnostid trilobites. The glabella, a raised central lobe on the cephalon, is greatly reduced or absent in Aglaspis. Similarly, the pygidium lacks distinct pleural or axial furrows. This simplified morphology suggests a pelagic or nektonic lifestyle, drifting or swimming in the water column rather than inhabiting the seafloor. Fossil occurrences of Aglaspis are widespread, found in various Cambrian deposits across the globe, indicating its successful dispersal. Its presence is often used as a biostratigraphic marker for certain Cambrian stages due to its rapid evolution and wide distribution. The precise taxonomic relationships of Aglaspis within Agnostida are still debated among paleontologists.