Unusually Spined Cyphaspis Moroccan Trilobite

Description: Unusual example of a member of the Order Proetida, Family Otarionidae with many fine details present. While most frequently known in the trade as “Otarion”, this one is actually a member of the genus Cyphaspis. The most diagnostic features of this taxon are the high stalked eyes, elongated spines, and granulose bulbous cephalon. This one is most unusual in that it also possesses a pair of small spines on the pygidium, a feature unlike any others I have seen. This one has been prepared in such a way as to free the entire specimen from matrix, leaving it suspended by only a delicate pedestal of matrix. Note even the hypostome has been freed, the first such example I have had. While specimens that were partially prepared free of matrix, typically exposing only the spines were term prepared in the “flying” mode, I prefer to distinguish these paleontological works of art by using the term freestanding.