1.75" Rare Ceratonurus Trilobite With Kainops - Black Cat Mountain

Rare Ceratonurus Trilobite With Kainops - Black Cat Mountain #104038

This is fantastic association of a rare, spiny Ceratonurus trilobite along with a Kainops from the famous Black Cat Mountain Quarry in Oklahoma. Typically only 2-3 good Ceratonurus are found in an entire digging season there, so getting one in close association with another trilobite is a really rare find.

The Ceratonurus is 1.75" long which is on the larger side for the species and laid out nice and prone. It has been nicely prepared using air abrasives under microscope and the horns are free-standing. The Kainops is 1.35" long and almost touching it. The s light, caramel colored shell contrasts well with the limestone matrix that it is centered on.

The Black Cat Mountain Quarry produces a limited number of arguably the most beautiful trilobites in the United States each year. Each specimen is meticulously prepared by quarry owner Bob Carroll under microscope to expose the smallest details. This is a very time consuming process, taking many hours, but yields spectacular results.

About Trilobites

Trilobites are an extinct class of marine arthropods that thrived for nearly 270 million years, from the early Cambrian to the end of the Permian period (around 521 to 252 million years ago). They are one of the most successful and diverse groups in the history of life, with over 25,000 described species spanning a wide range of sizes, shapes, and ecological niches. Known for their distinctive, segmented exoskeletons, trilobites provide invaluable insights into the evolutionary history of arthropods and the dynamics of ancient marine ecosystems.

More About Trilobites