17.5" Giant Asaphid Trilobite (Basilicus) - Fezouata Formation

Giant Asaphid Trilobite (Basilicus) - Fezouata Formation #277213

This is an absolutely massive 17.5" long Asaphid (Basilicus sp) trilobite fossil from the Fezouata Formation of Morocco. These giant Asaphids are quite rare to find complete now; they are found in limestone lenses within the massive shale unit of the formation. These limestone lenses are only exposed through erosion, a rather slow process in the desert. Over the decades, the sites have been scoured by diggers who have broken down all of the exposed lenses.

This one is near maximum size and is well preserved. It has about 15% restoration in total including the shell on the glabella and a section on the right edge of the tail.

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