1.4" Metacanthina Issoumourensis Trilobite Fossil Devonian Age 400 Mil Yrs Old COA
Location: Lghaft, Morocco
Weight: 3.7 Ounces
Dimensions: 3.7 Inches Long, 2.6 Inches Wide, 1.1 Inches Thick (Matrix)
The trilobite is: 1.4 Inches Long, 0.9 Inches Wide, 0.5 Inches Thick
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Metacanthina Issoumourensis
Trilobites were a highly successful group of extinct marine arthropods that belonged to the class Trilobita. They first emerged in Earth’s oceans around 521 million years ago during the Early Cambrian period, marking the beginning of the Atdabanian stage in the fossil record. For hundreds of millions of years, trilobites flourished throughout the Paleozoic Era, shaping early marine ecosystems before disappearing long before dinosaurs came into existence.
One of the most important evolutionary innovations of trilobites was their hardened exoskeleton, the earliest known skeletal structure in the animal kingdom. This rigid shell offered protection and structural support while also greatly increasing the likelihood of fossil preservation. The trilobite body followed a distinctive three-lobed design, with a raised axial lobe running down the center and two pleural lobes positioned symmetrically along the sides—an arrangement reflected in their name, meaning “three-lobed.”
The body of a trilobite was divided into three functional regions. The cephalon, or head, supported compound eyes, feeding structures, and sensory organs such as antennae. Behind it, the thorax consisted of two to sixty-one overlapping segments, providing flexibility and enabling defensive behaviors. The posterior pygidium formed a tail shield, created from fused segments that added stability and protection.
Today, trilobites remain among the most recognizable and scientifically important fossils. Their diversity and abundance provide invaluable insight into early arthropod evolution, Cambrian biodiversity, and the origins of complex life in Earth’s ancient oceans.
Please be aware of the nature of fossils:
Being buried under the ground for millions of years under tons of pressure tends to be rough. No fossil comes out of the ground whole and perfect. Most fossils have undergone some restoration, while others are altered by man simply to enhance their presentation in different ways. The workers in Morocco do a very professional job of unearthing and preserving these natural treasures; however, natural cracks are commonly visible on the surface. These are part of the natural beauty of the fossil and are not considered defects.
