2.6" Zlichovaspis Rugosa Trilobite Fossil Morocco Devonian Age 400 Mil Yrs Old

Location: Lghaft, Morocco

Weight 8.9 Ounces 

Dimensions: 3 Inches Tall, 2.9 Inches Wide, 2 Inches Thick (Matrix)

Trilobite Dimensions: 2.6 Inches Long, 1.7 Inches Wide, 1.1 Inches Thick (Head To Tail)

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. 

This is a genuine fossil. 

The item pictured is the one you will receive.

Zlichovaspis Rugosa Trilobite

Trilobites were an extinct group of marine arthropods belonging to the class Trilobita and represent one of the earliest known branches of arthropod evolution. They first appeared in Earth’s oceans approximately 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 in ancient seas and became one of the defining life forms of the Paleozoic Era, disappearing long before dinosaurs ever existed.

These early animals were distinguished by their hardened exoskeleton, the first known skeletal structure to evolve in the animal kingdom. This rigid outer shell provided protection and structural support while also allowing trilobites to fossilize exceptionally well, resulting in one of the richest fossil records of any extinct animal group. Their bodies were divided lengthwise into three distinct lobes—a raised central axial lobe flanked by two symmetrical pleural lobes—giving rise to the name trilobite, meaning “three-lobed.”

The body of a trilobite was organized into three major regions, each adapted to a specific function. At the front was the cephalon, or head, which housed compound eyes, mouthparts, and sensory organs such as antennae. Behind the head lay the thorax, a flexible middle section composed of two to as many as sixty-one overlapping segments that allowed movement and defensive behaviors. The rear of the body formed the pygidium, where the segments were fused into a solid tail shield that added stability and protection.

Trilobites occupied a wide range of marine environments, from shallow coastal waters to deeper ocean floors, and played an essential role in early marine ecosystems. Today, their fossils continue to provide invaluable insight into early arthropod evolution, Cambrian biodiversity, and the origins of complex life on Earth.

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 visible on the surface. These are part of the natural beauty of the fossil and are not considered defects.