# Biceratops

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***Biceratops*** is an [extinct](/source/Extinct) [genus](/source/Genus) of [olenelloid](/source/Olenelloidea) [redlichiid](/source/Redlichiida) [trilobites](/source/Trilobita), 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](/source/Cambrian) stage (last phase of the Upper [*Olenellus*-zone](/source/Trilobite_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](/source/Cephalon_(arthropod_head))), that is bordering the two horn-like projections that carry the eyes.[1] *Biceratops nevadensis* is the only known species in this genus (i.e. the genus is [monotypic](/source/Monotypic_taxon)).

## Etymology

The name of the genus is derived from [Latin](/source/Latin) and means ‘two horned-eyes’. The species [epithet](/source/Epithet) refers to the US state where it was collected.[1]

## Description

As with most early trilobites, *Biceratops* has an almost flat [exoskeleton](/source/Exoskeleton), that is only thinly calcified. It also shares crescent-shaped eye ridges, but these rise above the exoskeleton. As part of the Olenellina suborder, *Biceratops* lacks dorsal sutures. Like all other members of the Olenelloidea superfamily, the eye-ridges spring from the back of the frontal lobe (L4) of the central area of the cephalon, that is called [glabella](/source/Trilobite#Cephalon). The exoskeleton of *Biceratops* is ovate in outline and up to 8 cm in length, disregarding the huge pleural spines of the 3rd thorax segment. The head shield (or [cephalon](/source/Cephalon_(arthropod_head))) is semicircular to subtriangular, about twice as wide as long. It has a distinct cephalic border. The glabella is hourglass-shaped and the furrows are indistinct. The small eyes are set on the vertical outside surface of the eyelobes (or palpebral lobes), that extend upwards and backwards above the glabella. The cheeks (or genae) are clearly convex. The thorax is about as long as wide and shaped as a shield. The frontal thorax (or prothorax) has 15 segments, the last of which carries a firm, long, backward-directed spine. The 3rd thorax segment is enlarged, the pleura at the axis slightly longer than that of other segments, and about four times as long at the side removed from the axis. Neighbouring pleurae are displaced because of the large pleurae of the 3rd segment. The back thorax (or opistothorax) consists of about 10 progressively smaller segments with insignificant pleurae. Tail shield (or pygidium) not known.

### Differences with other Biceratopsinae

All other [Biceratopsinae](/source/Biceratopsinae) have genal spines.

## Distribution

*Biceratops nevadensis* is known only from the lower part of the [Pioche Shale](/source/Pioche_Shale) ([Upper *Olenellus*-zone](/source/Trilobite_zone#Subdivision_of_the_''Olenellus''-zone)) at the base of the Frenchman Mountain, [Clark County](/source/Clark_County,_Nevada), Nevada.[1]

## Habitat

*Biceratops nevadensis* was probably a marine bottom dweller, like all Olenellina.

## Ecology

*Biceratops nevadensis* occurs together with *[Olenellus fowleri, O. gilberti, O. terminatus](/source/Olenellus)* and *[Mesonacis fremonti](/source/Mesonacis)*.[1][2]

## References

1. Pack, P. D. & Gayle, H. B. (2009). "A New Olenellid Trilobite, *Biceratops nevadensis*, from the Lower Cambrian near Las Vegas, Nevada". *Journal of Paleontology*. **45** (5): 893–898.

1. Webster, Mark (2011). ["Trilobite Biostratigraphy and Sequence Stratigraphy of the Upper Dyeran (traditional Laurentian 'Lower Cambrian') in the southern Great Basis, U.S.A."](https://geosci.uchicago.edu/~mwebster/Webster_2011_Dyeran.pdf). *Cambrian Stratigraphy and Paleontology of Northern Arizona and Southern Nevada*. *Museum of Northern Arizona Bulletin*. **67**. Museum of Northern Arizona.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Biceratops](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biceratops) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biceratops?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.