1.4" Elrathia Kingi Trilobite Fossil Utah Cambrian Age 521 Million Years Old COA
Location: Utah House Range - Antelope Springs, Millard County
Weight: 0.4 Ounces
Dimensions: 1.4 Inches Long, 1 Inch Wide, 0.3 Inches Thick
Comes with a free Certificate of Authenticity.
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Elrathia Kingi Trilobite
Trilobites were a phenomenally successful and diverse class of extinct marine arthropods that first emerged in the fossil record at the beginning of the Atdabanian stage of the Early Cambrian, roughly 521 million years ago. They represent a cornerstone of the Cambrian Explosion, a period of rapid evolutionary innovation. Thriving across all ancient oceans for nearly 300 million years, their reign ended in the great Permian-Triassic extinction event, vanishing over 250 million years before the first dinosaurs appeared. Their exceptional fossil record, due to their calcite exoskeleton, makes them a paleontological treasure.
Masterpiece of Morphology: Decoding the Trilobite Body Plan
The name "trilobite," meaning "three-lobed," perfectly describes their distinctive anatomy, segmented for flexibility and protection.
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The Three Longitudinal Lobes: Every trilobite exoskeleton is divided lengthwise into a raised central axial lobe (covering the main organs) and two flatter pleural lobes on either side.
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The Three Primary Body Sections (Tagmata):
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The Cephalon (Head Shield): A highly evolved structure featuring sophisticated compound eyes (in most species) with prismatic calcite lenses, allowing them to be among the planet's first animals to develop complex vision. It also housed mouthparts—including a hard plate called the hypostome—and delicate, sensory antennae, their only non-mineralized appendage often preserved in exceptional fossils.
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The Thorax (Midsection): Composed of a series of articulated segments (anywhere from 2 to over 61), providing immense flexibility. This design enabled a crucial survival behavior: enrollment, where the animal could curl into a protective ball, much like a modern pillbug.
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The Pygidium (Tail Plate): Formed from the fusion of multiple rear segments into a single shield, which could range from tiny to larger than the cephalon.
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Why Trilobites Are Irreplaceable to Science and Collectors
Trilobites serve a dual role as both scientific keystones and sought-after collectibles.
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Paradigm of Index Fossils: Due to their rapid evolution, global distribution, and abundance, trilobites are critical index fossils. Geologists and paleontologists rely on specific trilobite species to precisely date and correlate Paleozoic rock layers across continents, making them fundamental to reconstructing Earth's ancient geography.
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Windows into Paleoecology: Their incredible morphological diversity—from blind, burrowing forms to large, sighted predators with formidable spines—reveals detailed stories about ancient marine ecosystems, predator-prey relationships, and adaptive strategies.
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A Collector's Dream: From the detailed Elrathia of Utah to the spectacular spined Walliserops of Morocco, trilobite fossils offer a tangible connection to deep time, prized for their beauty, variety, and scientific significance.
Please be aware of the nature of fossils:
Being buried under the ground for millions of years under immense pressure can be rough. Rarely does a fossil emerge intact and perfect. Most fossils require some restoration, and some are even modified by humans to improve their display. In the United States, workers do a highly professional job of excavating and preserving these natural treasures.
