Walliserops
n. sp aff. tridens
Trilobites
Order Phacopida, Suborder Phacopina, Superfamily Acastoidea, Family Acastidae
Geological
Time: Middle Devonian
Size: (25.4
mm = 1 inch): Walliserops trilobite is 65 mm long by 40 mm wide
on a 110 by 75 mm matrix
Fossil Site:
Foum Ziguid, Morocco
Code: 14090
Price: Sold
Description:
This trilobite is 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 trifurcatis species. As a result,
I will just term it Walliserops new species affinis tridens.
The cephalic and occipital spines as well as the distinctive
trident 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.
Notice the plethora of tiny spines on the axial lobes. (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).
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