Way Rare Gem Harpides plautini Russian trilobite

Coming from the Lower Ordovician Wolhovian Level deposits of the Wolchow River region near Saint Petersburg, Russia, this is an example of the trilobite Hapides plautini. It is a member of the Order Harpetida, a newly-erected order derived from the Ptychopariida (see my ME page for a link to an excellent website by Sam Gon). The trilobite itself is 1.0 inches long (measured along the curve) and 0.8 inches wide at the widest extent of the cephalon. Its coffee-au-lait-colored Calcite shell is well set off by the white limestone matrix. The most distinctive feature of this trilobite is the broad finely-textured cephalic ring, which presumably served to keep the trilobite at the surface of a silty bottom, much like snowshoes keep a hiker supported on snow. These trilobites are nearly always found as partials; a complete one with thorax and pygidium is almost unheard of. It is the first that I am aware of being offered on ebay. I had offered a relative (Harpes) nearly two years ago, with little seen since. As always, the skillful Russian preparators have shown this fine specimen to best advantage, well-positioned on its 3.0 inch by 2.0 inch matrix, allowing the body to be seen by painstakingly exposing its features.

Also see: Russian Trilobites