Smotrychaspis
| Smotrychaspis | |
|---|---|
| Picture (left) and annotated diagram (right) of Smotrychaspis holotype | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Clade: | Euchelicerata |
| Genus: | †Smotrychaspis Smith & Selden, 2025 |
| Type species | |
| †Smotrychaspis kurtopleurae Smith & Selden, 2025
| |
Smotrychaspis is a genus of chelicerate arthropod from the Silurian aged Ustya Formation of Ukraine. Representing part of the paraphyletic "synziphosurine" grouping of early chelicerates, it closely resembles pseudoniscids and bunodids but its exact relationships are unclear. A very small animal, it is distinguished from other synziphosurines by its smooth carapace, untapering parallel abdomen, and large spikes along both sides of its body, largest near the back of the body.