Spectacularly Spiny Drotops Phacopid Trilobite

Drotops armatus forma armata

Trilobites Order Phacopida, Family Phacopidae

Geological Time : Middle Devonian

Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Trilobite is 80 mm long (curve measure), 45 mm across. Matrix: 95 mm by 48 mm

Fossil Site: Madene El Mrakib, Ma’der Region, Erfoud, Morocco

Code: 09013

Price: $2250.00


Drotops armatus forma armataDescription: This plate displays a rarely seen example of a trilobite related to the more common “Phacops” Drotops megalomanicus found in the Devonian deposits of region Ma’der near Erfoud, Morocco. This one is different in large measure due to the fact that there is a profusion of spines projecting from all surfaces, even the eyes! There are four varieties known, distinguished by the type and placement of the spines. This one is forma armata with spines of up to 10 mm in length. Armatus means armed; to what purpose could all these spines be put? Fish had just recently evolved true jaws, and the armament here was a response to predation pressures. This one would hve been a mouthful for any would be predator. There are MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED spines preserved here, making this a wonderful example of an evolutionary salvo in the predator/prey arms race.

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