.95" Pelagic Trilobite (Cyclopyge) Fossil - Huge Eyes

This is an exceptional .95" long example of an unusual pelagic trilobite (Cyclopyge) from El Kaid Rami, Morocco. Nearly all of the Cyclopyge you see from Morocco are flattened on shale and not 3D like this specimen. Both eyes on this specimen have incredible preservation. There is a little bit of restoration to the spine on the front of its head.

What makes Cyclopyge so unusual is that it was a pelagic (or free swimming) trilobite which lived in the water column rather than on the sea floor. It was thought to have lived in deeper water (200m) where little sunlight filtered down. It had huge eyes on the sides of its head, rather than on the top like most trilobites, which would have provided it with a great view looking to the sides and downwards.