1" Elrathia Kingi Trilobite Fossil Utah Cambrian Age 521 Million Years Old COA

Location: Utah House Range - Antelope Springs, Millard County

Weight: 0.2 Ounces

Dimensions: 1 Inch Long, 0.8 Inches Wide, 0.2 Inches Thick

Comes with a free Certificate of Authenticity. 

The item pictured is the one you will receive.

Elrathia Kingi Trilobite

Trilobites are a group of extinct marine arthropods that are classified in the class Trilobita. They represent one of the earliest known groups of arthropods. The first appearance of trilobites in the fossil record marks the beginning of the Atdabanian stage of the Early Cambrian period, about 521 million years ago. These creatures were hard-shelled, segmented animals that inhabited Earth's ancient seas. Considered among the earliest complex life forms on our planet, trilobites are also key signature creatures of the Paleozoic Era. They went extinct before the existence of dinosaurs. Trilobites were the first animals to develop a skeleton (exoskeleton), which made them easily fossilized. Their shells are divided lengthwise into three lobes—hence the name "TRILOBITE," meaning "three-lobed"—with a central axial lobe and two symmetrical pleural lobes on either side axis.

Morphologically, the trilobite body is divided into three major sections:

1.  a cephalon (or head) with eyes, mouthparts, and sensory organs such as antennae.

2.  a middle region called the thorax with several overlapping segments (anywhere from 2 to 61).

3.  a pygidium (or tail section) in which the segments were fused.

Please be aware of the nature of fossils:

Being buried underground for millions of years under immense pressure can be harsh. Rarely does a fossil emerge completely intact and perfect. Most fossils require some restoration, and some are even modified by humans to improve their appearance. In the United States, workers perform a highly professional job in excavating and preserving these natural treasures.