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 an extinct group of marine arthropods classified in the class Trilobita. Among the earliest known arthropods, trilobites first appeared in the fossil record during the Atdabanian stage of the Early Cambrian period, around 521 million years ago. These ancient sea creatures had hard, segmented exoskeletons and thrived in Earth’s primordial oceans. Recognized as some of the earliest complex life forms, trilobites serve as important indicators of the Paleozoic Era. They went extinct long before dinosaurs roamed the planet.
Trilobites were the first animals to develop a skeleton (exoskeleton), which made them highly fossilizable. Their bodies are divided lengthwise into three lobes—a central axial lobe and two symmetrical pleural lobes—giving them the name “trilobite,” meaning “three-lobed.”
The trilobite body is organized into three main sections:
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Cephalon (head) – equipped with eyes, mouthparts, and sensory organs like antennae.
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Thorax (middle) – consisting of multiple overlapping segments, ranging from 2 to 61.
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Pygidium (tail) – with fused segments forming the tail section.
Trilobite fossils are invaluable to paleontologists and fossil collectors, providing unique insights into Cambrian marine ecosystems, the evolution of early arthropods, and the biodiversity of the Paleozoic Era.
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 the United States do a very professional job, unearthing and preserving these natural treasures
