A new Cambrian catillicephalid trilobite from the Shallow Bay Formation of western Newfoundland, Canada

Species of Catillicephala are known from sites around the mid-Cambrian margin of Laurentian North America, including Vermont, Quebec, Newfoundland and North Greenland. Catillicephala cifellii sp. nov. is from the Downes Point Member of the Shallow Bay Formation (Cow Head Group) in western Newfoundland. It occurs in three shelf margin-derived boulders in debris flow conglomerates that accumulated in a continental slope setting. The associated trilobites and agnostoid arthropods, including Ptychagnostus aculeatus and Megagnostus glandiformis, indicate a correlation with the Lejopyge laevigata Zone. As such, C. cifellii is among the oldest representatives of the genus, and is early Guzhangian in age.

Automated summary

A new fossil species of Catillicephala, C. cifellii, is discovered from the mid-Cambrian margin of Laurentian North America. It is among the oldest representatives of the genus, dating back to the early Guzhangian period.