Super Spiny Drotops Armatus Trilobite - 4.9"

This is a superb example of the super spiny phacopid trilobite, Drotops armatus. With somewhere around 100 free standing spines it would have been a very unappetizing dinner for it's predators.

It's very large at just under 5 inches in length and has been expertly prepared so that is aesthetically displayed on a pedestal of matrix. These trilobites are some of the most time consuming in the world to prepare due to their many spines, some nearly 1/2 inch in length. The preservation of the eye facets on this specimen is particularly good.

Nearly all of the spines are real though many were broken and reattached during the preparation process. A few spines were broken in a shipping accident, could not be found and had to be restored. The shell of the trilobite has been darkened to hide some surface scratches and dings left during preparation. Compared to most specimens there is minimal restoration and it displays spectacularly.