2.7" Morocconites Trilobite - Ofaten, Morocco

Morocconites Trilobite - Ofaten, Morocco #186700

Here is a 2.7" long (if outstretched) specimen of one of the more unusual species of trilobites. It is Morocconites malladoides quarried from the deposits near Ofaten, Morocco. This member of the Phacopida trilobites and has a very defining feature, a long pointed rostrum (snout) coming off of it's head. It's unclear what purpose this rostrum would have served, but it could have potentially been used to help it dig through the mud.

The specimen is arched over but has nice preparation and shell detail including visible eye facets.

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