Fam. 13. Proëtidae (Figs. [150], G; 151, A, B).—The body is rather small, and the head forms about a third of its entire length. The glabella is sharply defined, and its furrows are sometimes indistinct; the posterior furrow curves backward to the neck-furrow, thus limiting a basal lobe on each side of the glabella. The eyes are often large (Fig. [150], G); but in Arethusina (Fig. [151], B), in which an eye-line is present, they are small. The facial sutures pass from the posterior to the anterior margin. The free cheeks are large. There are from eight to twenty-two thoracic segments with grooved pleurae. The pygidium is usually formed of numerous segments, and its margin is usually entire. Ordovician to Permian. Genera: Proëtus, Arethusina, Cyphaspis, Phillipsia, Griffithides, Brachymetopus, Dechenella.[[203]]
Fam. 14. Encrinuridae.—The cephalic shield is ornamented with tubercles. The free cheeks are narrow, and the eyes very small. The facial suture extends from the lateral margin (or from the genal angle) to the anterior margin. There are from ten to twelve thoracic segments with ridged pleurae. On the axis of the pygidium numerous segments are seen, but usually fewer are indicated on the lateral parts. Ordovician and Silurian. Genera: Encrinurus, Cybele, Dindymene.
Fam. 15. Acidaspidae (Fig. [151], F).—The cephalic shield is broad, with a spinose margin, genal spines, and sometimes spines on the neck-ring. The glabella has a longitudinal furrow on each side, due to the backward bending of the lateral furrows. The facial suture passes from the posterior border (near the genal angle) to the anterior border. The free cheeks are large; the eyes small. There are from eight to ten thoracic segments with ridged pleurae, which are produced into long backwardly directed spines. The pygidium is short, and is formed of two or three segments with long spines at the margin. Ordovician to Devonian. Genus: Acidaspis.
Fam. 16. Lichadidae.—The body is broad, with a granular dorsal surface. The cephalic shield is small and short, with spinose genal angles. The glabella is broad, and its anterior furrows are directed backwards, limiting a convex median lobe and some lateral lobes. The facial suture extends from the posterior to the anterior margin. There are nine or ten thoracic segments with grooved pleurae, which have pointed ends. The pygidium is large and triangular, with a short axis and a toothed margin. Ordovician to Devonian. Genus: Lichas (sub-genera, Arges, Dicranogmus, Conolichas, Ceratolichas).
INTRODUCTION TO ARACHNIDA,
AND
XIPHOSURA
BY
A. E. SHIPLEY, M.A., F.R.S.
Fellow of Christ’s College, Cambridge, and Reader in Zoology in the University
CHAPTER IX
ARACHNIDA—INTRODUCTION
The Arachnida, together with the Crustacea, Insecta, Myriapoda, and Peripatus, make up the great phylum Arthropoda, a phylum which, from the point of view of numbers of species and of individuals, is the dominant one on this planet, and from the point of view of intelligence and power of co-operating in the formation of social communities is surpassed but by the Vertebrata. The Arachnida form a more diverse class than the Insecta; they differ, perhaps, as much inter se as do the Crustacea, and in structure as in size and habit they cover a wide range.