Red Leonaspis Trilobite - Hmar Laghdad, Morocco

This is a rare, naturally red Leonaspis trilobite from Hmar Laghdad, Morocco. The shell preservation is a deep red coloration which is very unique to the location. It's enrolled but would be about 1" long if outstretched. There is also a tail of a phacopid trilobite in the matrix next to it.

Trilobites are very tough to find complete at the site that produces these red specimens. The red coloration is due to high levels of iron in the silicified exoskeleton. A paper on this unique preservation can be found below.

Red Devonian trilobites with green eyes from Morocco
and the silicification of the trilobite exoskeleton