Acastocephala

Acastocephala is a genus of trilobites from the middle Silurian, known from the United Kingdom.^[2]

Acastocephala Temporal range: Silurian
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Clade:	†Artiopoda
Class:	†Trilobita
Order:	†Phacopida
Family:	†Acastidae
Genus:	†Acastocephala Shergold, 1966
Species
A. macrops (Salter, 1864) (type) synonym Phacops downingiae var. β. macrops A. dudleyensis Shergold, 1966[1]

Etymology

The name is derived from the genus Acaste and the Ancient Greek κεφαλή (kephalē) "head", indicating the headshield is similar to Acaste.^[1]

Taxonomy

Acastocephala may contain the ancestor of Acastava.^[1]

Distribution

• Acastocephala macrops occurs in the Middle Silurian of the United Kingdom (Wenlock Shale, Malvern, Worcestershire; Wenlock Limestone, Pen-y-Lan, Cardiff, and Dudley and Ludlow, Ledbury, Hereford).
• Acastocephala dudleyensis has been found in the Middle Silurian of the United Kingdom (Wenlock Limestone, Wren's Nest, Dudley, Worcestershire).^[1]