2.7" Morocconites Malladoides Trilobite Fossil Morocco Devonian Age Display, COA
Location: Ofaten, Morocco
Weight 7.4 Ounces
Display Dimensions: 3 Inches Long, 2.5 Inches Wide, 1.6 Inches Thick (Matrix)
Trilobite Dimensions are: 2.7 Inches Long, 1.2 Inches Wide, 0.7 Inches Thick
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Morocconites Malladoides Trilobite
Trilobites were an extinct group of marine arthropods that belonged to the class Trilobita and are recognized as some of the earliest complex animals on Earth. They first appeared in the fossil record around 521 million years ago during the Early Cambrian period, marking the beginning of the Atdabanian stage. For hundreds of millions of years, trilobites thrived in the world’s oceans, becoming one of the most successful and widespread animal groups of the Paleozoic Era, long before the rise of dinosaurs.
These ancient creatures were distinguished by their hardened exoskeleton, the earliest known skeletal structure in animals. This rigid outer shell provided protection, structural support, and an exceptional capacity for fossilization. Trilobites had a distinctive three-lobed body plan, consisting of a central axial lobe flanked by two pleural lobes, which gives the group its name, meaning “three-lobed.”
The body of a trilobite was divided into three primary regions. The cephalon, or head, contained compound eyes, feeding appendages, and sensory organs such as antennae, allowing the animal to navigate and interact with its environment. Following the head, the thorax formed a flexible middle section composed of anywhere from two to sixty-one articulated segments, permitting movement and defensive curling. The posterior pygidium, or tail section, consisted of fused segments that added protection and structural stability.
Trilobites inhabited a variety of marine environments, from shallow coastal waters to deeper ocean floors, and played a key role in early marine ecosystems. Their abundant and exceptionally preserved fossils continue to provide scientists with invaluable insight into the evolution of arthropods, Cambrian biodiversity, and the development 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.
