Illaenus caecoides Reed, 1917

Fig. 15.5

1917 Illaenus caecoides sp. nov.; Reed, p. 45–6, pl. 7, figs 9–10.

Material. Lectotype (selected herein): dorsal exoskeleton, Fig. 15.5 (Reed, 1917, pl. 7, fig. 9), GSI 11898. Additional type material: pygidium (Reed, 1917, pl. 7, fig. 10), GSI 11899. Both specimens from the Shihtien Formation (Darriwilian) at Banpo Village in Shidian County, western Yunnan.

Remarks. We were unable to make a satisfactory cast of the lectotype, and Reed’s original illustration is reproduced here. Although the dorsal exoskeleton is complete it is much abraded. Reed (1917, p. 46) inferred that this was a blind species of “ Illaenus ” but we regard it as more probable that the abrasion of the dorsal surface has removed evidence of the facial sutures and the visual surfaces from a more typical illaenid. If this is so there are very few possible specific characters, and the species will not be recognisable until more collections are made from the type locality.