New Trilobite Species Named After Researcher in Paleontological Discovery

A newly identified trilobite species, Amphoton bicknelli, has been documented from the Tasman Formation in New Zealand. The species honors Dr. Russell Bicknell, a New Zealand-born paleontologist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. The discovery was part of a broader study led by Dr. Patrick Smith, which identified the oldest fossils in New Zealand, including 59 species from the Cobb River Valley area on the South Island, five of which were previously unknown. The research, conducted over six years, involved collaboration with researchers from Geoscience Australia and the University of South Australia, and was partly inspired by the late Roger Cooper of the New Zealand Geological Survey. The naming reflects scientific partnerships and the personal narratives underlying paleontological work.