Anti-Atlas Mountains, South Morocco, Cambrian, ca. 542 to 488 million years ago. In the past several years, many new fascinating invertebrate fossils have been discovered in the rich deposits of southern Morocco, North Africa. This RARE trilobite is a new discovery resembling a reduced size Paradoxides sp. yet with a thicker carapace and longer, thinner sweeping genal spines. As of this listing, it is an unnamed species of the Redlichiida order of trilobites. The glabella is more bulbous than a Paradoxides but perhaps, the thicker carapace was able to preserve the once-living trilobite's 3D appearance, protecting it from compression in the layers as it became a fossil. For advanced collectors wishing to add a new and very rare specimen to their collection, this could be a prime acquisition! Other than cracks filled from repairs, there is ZERO FABRICATION with all anatomy being 100% genuine. An absolute RARE gem specimen, most highly recommended for the finest collections. Next to the Paradoxides and Cambropallas sp. trilobites of the North African Cambrian, this unnamed type seems to rank with those other giants as one of the 'much larger than typical' species known in the formation. Size: 8" L x 6" W (20.3 cm x 15.2 cm)

Trilobites are hard-shelled, segmented creatures that lived hundreds of millions of years ago in the Earth's ancient seas. They are considered to be one of our planet's earliest complex life-forms and are one of the key signature creatures of the Paleozoic Era. Trilobites went extinct before dinosaurs even existed. The name 'TRILOBITE' means 'three lobed" and is derived from the fact these animals had bodies featuring three longitudinal lobes, not lateral (head, body, tail) as is often thought. The lateral division of three parts is shared by many arthropods, not just trilobites. Next to dinosaur fossils, trilobites command a dedicated and passionate following amongst both scientists and fossil collectors, alike. In a relatively short time-frame (scientifically speaking, of course), we have the emergence and subsequent extinction of these fascinating creatures. Still most baffling is the incredible diversity of sizes and features that made up the trilobite group. Many bizarre species co-existed with highly specialized body parts that defy the theories of evolution in their "sudden" emergence and diversity during the Early Cambrian Period in what is known as the 'Cambrian Explosion'. Trilobites were among the world's first arthropods, a phylum of hard-shelled creatures with multiple body segments and jointed legs (although the legs, antennae and other finer structures of trilobites only very rarely are preserved). They constitute an extinct class of arthropods, Trilobita, that is comprised of over 15,000 known species. It has been reported that every year, four to five new species are discovered in the Atlas and Anti-Atlas Mountain regions in Morocco, alone! This desolate northern fringe of the Sahara Desert was once covered by a prehistoric ocean and its fossil deposits can be considered amongst the world's richest and most diverse source of these ancient sea creatures.

Provenance: Purchased in France from a collector, 2010.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#112717