Trilobite - Ceratarges sp.
SKU:
ITEM # TRILO-Morocco-0001
$1,800.00
$1,800.00
Middle/Late Devonian
Alnif, Morocco
ITEM # TRILO-Morocco-0001
This is an excellent example of the lichid trilobite Ceratarge sp. from the Devonian of Morocco.
Lichida is an order of typically spiny trilobite that lived from the Ordovician to the Devonian period.
These trilobites usually have 8-13 thoracic segments. Their exoskeletons often have a grainy texture or have tubercles. Some species are extraordinarily spiny, having spiny thoracic segments that are as long or longer than the entire body, from cephalon (head) to pygidium (tail). The sections of the pygidia are leaf-like in shape and also typically end in spines.
It is often said and quoted that the spiny character of these trilobites could possibly have come about as a defense against the rapidly evolving jawed fishes of the Silurian and Devonian periods. However, this fails to explain why the the lichid trilobites, especially those of the family Odontopleuridae, first began evolving large spines (and in some cases, spiny spines) during the start of the Ordovician period, long before the advent of jawed vertebrates.
Among the rarest of trilobites to find in Morocco. They had very strong muscle attachments, and the articular facets, which bound the individual segments together, were very loosely fitted. This made the lobopyge more agile than his cousins. However, after death the muscles would tighten, arching the animal backwards head to tall, exposing the under-carriage and, upon decomposition, the tail and head parts would separate very quickly. Finding one is rare enough, but finding one that has all its segments together and not fully arched is very rare indeed. The artist has taken full advantage of the curled head (cephalon), and has removed the matrix in such a manner as to enable the genals to stand free. This allows the observer to view anatomical parts not normally seen. This specimen isfully articulated and has all the bumps (pustules) and small spines noted for the species.
This specimen is approximately 2 inches long ( not including spines) on a matrix measuring 4 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches.
Alnif, Morocco
ITEM # TRILO-Morocco-0001
This is an excellent example of the lichid trilobite Ceratarge sp. from the Devonian of Morocco.
Lichida is an order of typically spiny trilobite that lived from the Ordovician to the Devonian period.
These trilobites usually have 8-13 thoracic segments. Their exoskeletons often have a grainy texture or have tubercles. Some species are extraordinarily spiny, having spiny thoracic segments that are as long or longer than the entire body, from cephalon (head) to pygidium (tail). The sections of the pygidia are leaf-like in shape and also typically end in spines.
It is often said and quoted that the spiny character of these trilobites could possibly have come about as a defense against the rapidly evolving jawed fishes of the Silurian and Devonian periods. However, this fails to explain why the the lichid trilobites, especially those of the family Odontopleuridae, first began evolving large spines (and in some cases, spiny spines) during the start of the Ordovician period, long before the advent of jawed vertebrates.
Among the rarest of trilobites to find in Morocco. They had very strong muscle attachments, and the articular facets, which bound the individual segments together, were very loosely fitted. This made the lobopyge more agile than his cousins. However, after death the muscles would tighten, arching the animal backwards head to tall, exposing the under-carriage and, upon decomposition, the tail and head parts would separate very quickly. Finding one is rare enough, but finding one that has all its segments together and not fully arched is very rare indeed. The artist has taken full advantage of the curled head (cephalon), and has removed the matrix in such a manner as to enable the genals to stand free. This allows the observer to view anatomical parts not normally seen. This specimen isfully articulated and has all the bumps (pustules) and small spines noted for the species.
This specimen is approximately 2 inches long ( not including spines) on a matrix measuring 4 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches.