Gumilevia

Gumilevia is an extinct genus of trilobites belonging to the order Asaphida and the family Asaphidae. These marine arthropods lived during the Ordovician period. Gumilevia fossils have been primarily found in regions of Central Asia, specifically in Kazakhstan and surrounding areas.

Characterized by a relatively flat and smooth dorsal exoskeleton, Gumilevia trilobites typically possess a sub-elliptical outline. The cephalon (head shield) is often semicircular, with smooth genal angles. The thorax comprises several segments, and the pygidium (tail shield) is usually of moderate size and also relatively smooth.

Gumilevia is distinguished from other asaphid trilobites by specific combinations of features related to its cephalic, thoracic, and pygidial morphology. These features often involve the shape and proportions of the glabella (the central raised area on the cephalon), the arrangement and number of thoracic segments, and the overall shape and ornamentation of the pygidium.

The paleogeographic distribution of Gumilevia suggests its presence in specific shallow marine environments during the Ordovician. The study of Gumilevia contributes to our understanding of trilobite evolution, paleobiogeography, and the paleoecology of the Ordovician period. Further research on Gumilevia, including comparative morphology and phylogenetic analyses, helps to refine our understanding of its relationships with other trilobite genera and the evolutionary history of Asaphida.