Kootenia is a genus of trilobite

Trilobite

Trilobites are a well-known fossil group of extinct marine arthropods that form the class Trilobita. The first appearance of trilobites in the fossil record defines the base of the Atdabanian stage of the Early Cambrian period , and they flourished throughout the lower Paleozoic era before...

s of the family Dorypygidae. Its major characteristics are that of the closely related Olenoides

Olenoides

Olenoides was a trilobite from the Cambrian period. Its fossils are found well-preserved in the Burgess Shale in Canada. It grew up to 10 cm long....

, including medium size, a large glabella

Glabella

The glabella, in humans, is the space between the eyebrows and above the nose. It is slightly elevated, and joins the two superciliary ridges.-Etymology:The term is derived from the Latin glabellus, meaning smooth, as this area is usually hairless....

, and a medium-sized pygidium

Pygidium

The pygidium is the posterior body part or shield of crustaceans and some other arthropods, such as insects and the extinct trilobites. It contains the anus and, in females, the ovipositor...

, but also a lack of the strong interpleural furrows on the pygidium that Olenoides has.

Synonyms

Kootenia is sometimes believed to be a junior synonym of Olenoides due to the marked similarities, and the fact that the main difference between them seems to be variable.