학명 : Walliserops trifurcates(월리세롭스 트리푸르카투스)

Phylum : Arthropoda(절지동물문), Class : Trilobita(삼엽충강), Order: Phacopida(파콥피다목), Family : Acastidae(아카스티과)

Geological Time: Devonian(고생대 데본기)

Size: 37 mm

Fossil Site: Foum Ziguid, Morocco

월리세롭스는(괴팅겐이 월리셔교수의 이름을 따서 명명함/Prof. O. Walliser of Gottingen)는 가시가 있는 파콥피다목의 삼엽충중의 하나로 모로코의 전기 및 중기데본기지층에서 발견되는 삼엽충입니다. 월리세롭스는 W. 트리푸르카투스한종만 보고되었지만 나중에 2개의 다른 종이 보고되었습니다. W.하미와 W.트리덴스(W. hammii & W. tridens)그것 입니다. 보고되는 3종 모두 남부모로코의 데본기지층인 제가드 지역입니다. 아직 다른 지역에서는 보고된 적이 없습니다.

초기 보고서에서 이 삼지창 삼엽충은 파라볼롭스(포물선 얼굴)라 했으며, 긴 삼지창을(Parabolops neptunis) 짧은 삼지창을(P. hammi)라고도 보고했습니다.

학자들은 이 뿔의 역할에 다양한 의견을 제시했다. 우선 다른 곳에서는 발견되지 않으므로 유전자 돌연변이로, 감각기관으로, 변장이나 보호역할 등을 제시했습니다. 그러나 가장 만족스러운 역할은 삼지창을 딱정벌레의 뿔로 이해하는데 많은 사람들이 동의하고 있습니다. 일부에서는 뿔이 남성의 상징이므로 암수를 구분하는 기능적인 분석도 제시하지만 아직은 이론적인 부분에서 언급하고 있을 뿐이다. 여러모로 삼엽충 중에서는 아주 특이한 종입니다. 화석을 좋아하는 사람으로 이러한 표본을 보여드릴 수 있다는 것이 고마울 뿐입니다.

Description: Walliserops (named after Prof. O. Walliser of Gottingen) is a genus of spinose phacopid (acastid) trilobite found in Lower to Middle Devonian age rocks from Morocco. All species of Walliserops share, and are famous for, the spectacular three-pronged "trident" that rises from the glabella. Walliserops is most closely related to the genus Comura

Walliserops was originally erected for a single species, W. trifurcatus. Later, two other species were assigned: W. hammii & W. tridens. All three currently described species come from the same strata near Foum Zguid in southern Morocco, three as yet un-described species are recorded from other locations.

Early reports of "trident" trilobites and placement within the proposed new genus "Parabolops" ("parabola face") - long tridents being placed within "P. neptunis", short tridents placed within "P. hammi" - were pre-empted by the publication of the detailed analysis of Walliserops.

Departures from bilateral symmetry are an unusual feature within Walliserops species, most clearly shown by the curved occipital spine of W. hammii taking a noticeable curl to one side. The regular development of these features in multiple specimens suggest a genetically controlled feature of the genus and not mutations or pathology. Most of the exceptions to bilateral symmetry noted (and also the absence of spines on the first two thoracic segments) can be explained by adaptations allowing the trident to be held off the sea floor while walking. Between the species there are variations in the extent of departure from bilateral symmetry: W. trifurcatus, with a long trident that is curved away from the seabed, has less obvious departures from bilateral symmetry than W. hammii, with a short trident close to the seabed.

The function of the trident itself is poorly understood. With the amount of energy and nutrients expended in growing such a large adornment (probably multiple times as the trilobite shed its skin) its function was clearly important. Although a number of suggestions have been made (e.g. sensory apparatus, disguise or protection), the most satisfactory current explanation is that the trident served as "horns" similar to present day beetles.

Sexual dimorphism was an intriguing prospect (longer trident forms as jousting males) when only two species (or possible dimorphs) were known. With the description of three species from the same location, polymorphism (e.g. caste system in ants and bees) was another prospect but seemed unlikely. Although the presence of horns strongly suggests sexual dimorphism, lack of data on numerous fronts currently prevents firm conclusions from being drawn.