Abstract
Machaeridians, enigmatic Palaeozoic metazoans have a dorsal scleritome composed of two or four longitudinal series of calcitic sclerites. Though rarely found complete, articulated specimens are an important source of information concerning form and function of the machaeridian scleritome. Here seven articulated specimens from the Silurian of Gotland are described and referred to five species of lepidocoleid machaeridians. The specimens show signs of a terminal growth pattern (crowding of rugae near the accreting margin), extreme dorsoventral elongation of sclerites, reflected by varying densities of rugae. Narrow dorsal depressions which may limit the amount of sclerite rotation, and possibly affecting the opening process of the scleritome.
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