{{Short description|Extinct genus of arthropods}} {{Speciesbox | name= ''Emucaris fava'' | image = Emucaris fava.jpg | image_caption = ''Emucaris fava'' | fossil_range = {{fossil range|Cambrian Stage 4}} | parent_authority = Paterson ''et al.'', 2010 | authority = Paterson ''et al.'', 2010 | genus = Emucaris | species = fava }}
'''''Emucaris fava''''' is an extinct species of soft-shelled trilobite-like arthropod of the nektaspid order from the Lower Cambrian (Cambrian Stage 4) of South Australia. It is the only species classified under the genus '''''Emucaris'''''.<ref name="paterson2010"/>
== Etymology == The generic name is derived from the Emu Bay Shale, the deposit where the species was collected, and the Latin word ''{{lang|la|caris}}'' meaning shrimp. The specific name ''fava'' is from the Latin word for honeycomb, for the ornamentation on its pygidial axis.<ref name="paterson2010">{{cite journal|author1=John R. Paterson |author2=Gregory D. Edgecombe |author3=Diego C. García-Bellido |author4=James B. Jago |author5=James G. Gehling |year=2010|title=Nektaspid arthropods from the Lower Cambrian Emu Bay Shale ''Lagerstätte'', South Australia, with a reassessment of lamellipedian relationships|journal=Palaeontology|volume=53|issue=Part 2|pages=377–402|url=http://www.nhm.ac.uk/resources-rx/files/paterson-et-al-2010-emucaridids-94061.pdf|doi=10.1111/j.1475-4983.2010.00932.x|bibcode=2010Palgy..53..377P |doi-access=free}}</ref>
== Description == The outline of the dorsal exoskeleton of ''E. fava'' is pointed inverted egg-shaped, between {{convert|1.5|cm|in}} and {{convert|3|cm|in}} long and about {{frac|1|2|3}} times as long as wide. The axis is up to 15% of the width of the body and only slightly raised. The semi-circular headshield (or cephalon) is about half as long as the tailshield (pygidium), and in between them four short thoracic body segments (somites). When disregarding the border, the pygidium of ''Emucaris'' is a triangle with a rounded termination, carrying a spine that ends at the outer rim of the border. There is no discernible segmentation visible. The axis in ''Emucaris'' is about one fifth of the pygidium and has a pattern of polygons of approximately equal area. The border of the cephalon is inconspicuous, and the border of the pygidium is longer than the somites. This border lacks ornamentation.<ref name="paterson2010"/>
=== Differences from ''Kangacaris'' === ''Kangacaris'' has only three thorax segments. The exoskeletal outline of ''Kangacaris'' is an inverted egg-shape. The axis of the pygidium of ''Kangacaris'' is a third of the width of the body and clearly segmented. The axis of the pygidium ''Kangacaris'' lacks a terminal spine. The pygidial border of ''Kangacaris'' has 17 equally spaced ridges perpendicular to the edge of the border.
== Distribution == Fossils of ''E. fava'' were collected from the Emu Bay Shale of Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Artiopoda}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q5374863}}
Category:Nektaspida Category:Monotypic artiopod genera Category:Prehistoric arthropods of Australia Category:Emu Bay Shale