Matthevia

{{Short description|Extinct genus of molluscs}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|taxon=Matthevia

|fossil_range={{geo range|Late Cambrian|Lower Ordovician|ref=

{{Cite journal | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iSYlAQAAIAAJ&pg=SL2-PA73 | title = Stratigraphic Distribution of the Late Cambrian Mollusk Matthevia WALCOTT, 1885 | author1= Ellis L. Yochelson | author2= J. F. McAllister | author3= Anthony Reso | name-list-style= amp | journal = Geological Survey Research 1965, Professional Paper 525-B | pages = B73–B78 | year = 1965}}

{{Cite journal | last1 = Pojeta | first1 = J. | last2 = Taylor | first2 = J. F. | last3 = Darrough | first3 = G. U. Y. | title = Matthevia (Polyplacophora) Invades the Ordovician: The First Reported Post-Cambrian Occurrence | journal = Journal of Paleontology | volume = 79 | issue = 5 | pages = 1021 | year = 2005 | doi = 10.1666/0022-3360(2005)079[1021:MPITOT]2.0.CO;2 }}}}

|image=Matthevia.JPG

|image_caption = Plates of Matthevia. Coin: 19 mm diameter

| authority = Walcott, 1885

}}

Matthevia is a genus of Cambrian molluscs, perhaps related to the chitons.{{Cite journal | first1=B. | first2= J.| last2= Pojeta Jr| title = Molluscan Phylogeny: the Paleontological Viewpoint| volume = 186| last1= Runnegar| journal = Science| issue = 4161| pages = 311–317| date=Oct 1974 | jstor = 1739764| pmid = 17839855| doi = 10.1126/science.186.4161.311|bibcode = 1974Sci...186..311R }} It consists of repeated monoplacophoran-like shells; according to one hypothesis, chitons arose when these tall shells began to overlap over the generations. The tall element of the shell was retained and forms the tips of modern chiton plates. There are distinct head, 'centre', and tail valves, which occur approximately in the ratio 1:5:1 — suggesting a seven-plated configuration.{{Cite journal | last1 = Runnegar | first1 = B. | last2 = Pojeta | first2 = J. | last3 = Taylor | first3 = M. E. | last4 = Collins | first4 = D. | title = New Species of the Cambrian and Ordovician Chitons Matthevia and Chelodes from Wisconsin and Queensland: Evidence for the Early History of Polyplacophoran Mollusks | journal = Journal of Paleontology | volume = 53 | issue = 6 | pages = 1374–1394 | year = 1979 }}

Matthevia was first described by Charles D. Walcott in 1885.Walcott, C. D., 1885, Note on some Paleozoic pteropods: Am. Jour. Sci., v. 30, p. 17-21.