Ancient Seas, Morocco, Hamar Laghdad Formation, Devonian period, ca. 419.2 to 358.9 Million years ago. A fantastic and well preserved fossilized trilobite raised above a stone matrix. The trilobite has been excavated with the matrix removed under the tail and head to reveal some of the underside of the exoskeleton. This is a genus of Hollardops, identifiable by the length of the genal spines on the cephalon. The preparation on this example gives the impression of this prehistoric creature swimming just above the ocean floor, much in the way they would have traveled. The texture of the eye facets is preserved and certainly gives an insect like appearance to this arthropod. Size of fossil: 2" L x 1.25" W (5.1 cm x 3.2 cm); matrix: 3" L x 1.5" W x 1.25" H (7.6 cm x 3.8 cm x 3.2 cm); case: 4.125" L x 4.125" W x 3.25" H (10.5 cm x 10.5 cm x 8.3 cm)

Trilobites are a fossil group of extinct marine arthropods that form one of the earliest known groups of arthropods. The first appearance of trilobites in the fossil record defines the base of the Atdabanian stage of the Early Cambrian period (521 million years ago), and they flourished throughout the lower Paleozoic era before beginning a drawn-out decline to extinction when, during the Devonian, all trilobite orders except the Proetids died out. Trilobites disappeared in the mass extinction at the end of the Permian about 252 million years ago. Trilobites were among the most successful of all early animals, roaming the oceans for over 270 million years!

Provenance: ex-Stein collection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, acquired prior to 2010

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#164337

Repairs to stone matrix and trilobite. Matrix repaired from approximately three pieces. Trilobite repaired from two pieces with restoration to tips of spines. Great preservation of detail. Displayed in acrylic case.