Saperion

Saperion is an extinct genus of trilobite-like arthropod. It lived during the late Atdabanian stage,^[1] which lasted from 521 to 514 million years ago during the early part of the Cambrian Period. It was found in the Maotianshan Shales of Yunnan, China.^[2] Similar to the closely related Skioldia and Tegopelte, the head shield and trunk tergites were fused into a single plate. There are about 19 furrows indicating the original trunk segments. a small anterior sclerite articulated to the front of its head.^[3] A pair of antennae and lateral eyes located ventrally behind the anterior sclerite, lateral to the hypostome.^[4] Saperion reached 151 mm in length and had nearly 25 pairs of biramous limbs for walking.^[5]

Saperion Temporal range: Cambrian Stage 3 PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
diagrammatic reconstruction
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Clade:	†Artiopoda
Subclass:	†Conciliterga
Order:	†Helmetiida
Family:	†Tegopeltidae
Genus:	†Saperion Hou, Ramsköld & Bergström, 1991
Type species
Saperion glumaceum Hou, Ramsköld & Bergström, 1991