Nektaspida

Nektaspida Temporal range: Atdabanian–Silurian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Naraoia compacta fossils with preserved appendages
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	†Trilobitomorpha
Order:	†Nektaspida Raymond , 1920
Families
†Emucarididae †Liwiidae †Naraoiidae †Buenaspis

Nektaspida (also called Naraoiida, Nektaspia and Nectaspida) is an extinct

The group is united by several morphological characters, including reduced or absent lateral eyes, a hypostome with a natant attachment, extensive articulation overlap between unfused trunk tergites, and fused pleurae that do not form lateral spines.^[5] Preserved soft tissue of the group indicates that the cephalic (head) shield of nektaspids and liwiids contained branched digestive glands.^[6] The Naraoiidae have their exoskeletons mostly composed of only two major shields, which have a single articulation point.^[7]

Ecology

The naraoiids have been interpreted as benthic organisms that were opportunistic scavengers and predators of soft-bodied prey, with the spine-like endites of the limbs possibly allowing soft-bodied prey to be shredded before ingestion. The differences in gut morphology between some species of naraoiids suggests that some species only intermittently fed, while others regularly fed.^[8]

Evolutionary history

The group first appeared and was most diverse in the

References