Walliserops n. sp aff. tridens
Trilobites Order Phacopida, Family Acastidae
Geological Time: Middle Devonian
Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Trilobites are 55 mm long by 28 mm wide and 60 mm long by 27 mm wide (if straight) on a 100 by 65 mm matrix
Fossil Site: Timarzit, Region Ma’der, Alnif , Morocco
Code: MT380
Price: $1495.00
 Description:
These trilobites are a member of the Order Phacopida, Family
Acastidae from the Devonian deposits of Timarzit, Morocco known
commercially
as the Short-Forked Trident. There are now three named triklobites
possessing a trident. The first was named Walliserops trifurcatus
by Pierre Morzadec. Chatterton and Brett had erected the genus
Parabolops, with the long-forked trident being Parabolops neptunis
and the short-forked Parabolops hammii. The genus name has been
invalidated, and Walliserops has been retained. The third named
trident trilobite, Walliserops tridens. One of the primary differences
between this and the other short-forked variety is that the “tines” of
the trident are more or less parallel in the newest species,
while the outside ones are curved inward in T. hammii. There
are currently no less than THREE unnamed trident trilobites,
with this one most similar to T. tridens but with a more robust
trident much like the original Walliserops
trifurcatus species.
As a result, I will just term it Walliserops new species affinis
tridens.
This is a NATURAL DOUBLE; the source of this specimen is known
personally to me, and vouches for the fact that it is not a composite.
The Cephalic and occipital spines on each example have been prepared
freestanding, making for a most esthetic display. Unlike many
trilobites prepared in Morocco, this one was done using the same
painstaking microabrasive techniques as here in the US, affording
a wonderful piece at a fraction of what a US-prepped example
would cost of comparable quality. (I apologize for the less-than-esthetic
photography while still in the shipping container, but discretion
was the better part of valor with all the spines).. |
