Bristolia can be separated into two distinct groups: one consisting ofB. insolens and B. anteros, the other comprising a gradual spectrum of morphologies including B. mohavensis, B. harringtoni, and B. bristolensis morphotypes. The second group reveals a dynamic morphological trend. From the oldest species B. mohavensis, the lineage undergoes gradational increase in intergenal angle and advancement of the genal spines, progressing through B. harringtoni, culminating in B. bristolensis. Younger specimens show a trend back to more acute intergenal angles and less advanced genal spines typical of B. fragilis. This development reflects an initial deepening of the water, followed by a reversal to increasingly shallower water. Bristolia insolens represents an extreme extrapolation of the earlier trend and is restricted to a narrow stratigraphic interval at maximal flooding.
Bristolia is most related to Fremontella halli and slightly further removed from Lochmanolenellus mexicana. These three genera together comprise the subfamily Bristoliinae. The sister groupBiceratopsinae can be distinguished by their strongly effaced cephalic features. Basic to both these subfamilies are the two species of the genus Laudonia. In Laudonia the anterior cephalic border is developed as a flattened ledge, not as an elevated ridge as in the Bristolinae. Also the furrow between the front lobe and the bordering side lobes is deepest at midline, while in the Bristolinae the depth is the same in the middle as to the sides. Fremontella, Lochmanolenellus and Laudonia have shorter genal spines than Bristolia. Lochmanolenellus and Laudonia both have intergenal spines, while Bristolia and Fremontella lack intergenal spines in adults.
The genus Bristolia is derived from the species name of Mesonacis bristolensis, that was elevated to a separate genus. The names of the species have the following derivations.
B. bristolensis refers to Bristol Dry Lake, in the neighbourhood of which this species has been found.
B. harringtoni was namened in honor of H.J. Harrington, who did important early research into Bristolia and erected this genus.
B. kurtzi is namen in honor of Vincent E. Kurtz, a paleontologist who investigated the fossils of Arctic Canada.
B. mohavensis is called after the Mojave Desert within which it can be found.
Description
As with most early trilobites, Bristolia has an almost flat exoskeleton, that is only thinly calcified, and has crescent-shaped eye ridges. As part of the Olenellina suborder, Bristolia lacks dorsal sutures. Like all other members of the Olenelloidea superfamily, the eye-ridges spring from the back of the frontal lobe of the central area of the cephalon, that is called glabella. The headshield of Bristolia carries conspicuous and curved spines of approximately 8 thorax segments long. The genal spines are attached in front of the back of the headshield. The central raised portion that represents the axis in the cephalon touches the elevated ridge that borders the cephalon. The furrows that separate border, eye ridges, glabella and its lobes are distinct. The area outside of the axis of the third segment of the thorax are greatly enlarged, and carrying large trailing spines. These extend further back than the rest of the body except for the axial spine that is carried by the most backward prothorax segment. The pleural lobes of the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th are consequently triangular in shape and edge forward and backward respectively, and do not carry spines. Prothorax segments further back carry slender spines that angle backwards. When the opistothorax is known it has at least 17 segments.
Key to the species
Distribution
B. bristolensis occurs in the Upper Olenellus-zone of California.
B. anteros is found in the Upper Olenellus-zone of Nevada, and California.
B. brachyomma is present in the Upper Olenellus-zone of California.
B. fragilis was collected in the Upper Olenellus-zone of Nevada, and California.
B. harringtoni is present in the Upper Olenellus-zone of California, and the White-Inyo Mountains).
B. insolens occurs in the Upper Olenellus-zone of California.
Bristolia kurtzi is found in the late Lower Cambrian of Canada.
B. mohavensis is found in the Upper Olenellus-zone of California.
Habitat
Bristolia was probably marine bottom dweller, like all Olenellina.
