Biceratops (original) (raw)

Biceratops is an extinct genus of olenelloid redlichiid trilobites, of average size, with the largest specimen 8 centimetres or 3.1 inches long, not including the huge pleural spines of the 3rd segment of the thorax. It lived during the Toyonian stage (last phase of the Upper Olenellus-zone), in what is today the South-Western United States. Biceratops can easily be distinguished from other members of Biceratopsidae by the absence of genal spines, in combination with effaced features of the raised axial area of the head shield (or glabella), that is bordering the two horn-like projections that carry the eyes. Biceratops nevadensis is the only known species in this genus (i.e. the genus is monotypic).