Exceedingly Rare Anacheirurus (Lehua) Moroccan Trilobite

Anacheirurs (Lehua sp.)

(Trilobites) Order Phacopida, Family Cheiruridae

Geological Time: Ordovician

Size: Trilobite is 31 mm long

Fossil Site: Tanssikhte, Zagora, Morocco


Anacheirurus (Lehua) TrilobiteDescription: This plate displays a rarely seen example of a trilobite found in the Ordovician deposits of Tanssikhte near Zagora, Morocco. This taxon has dramatically sweeping genal, pleural, and paired pygidial spines. The spines presumably in addition to a deterrent to predators probably served to keep the trilobite near the surface of the substrate, much as snowshoes do. This is a very fine, 3-D example of the type, unusual for Ordovician trilobites, and is rarely offered for sale. While usually termed Lehua in the fossil trade, I learned in Tucson this year that it is more correctly referred to as Anacheirurus.

Also see: Moroccan Trilobites

click to enlarge

 

 


l Fossil Mall Home l Fossils Science Section l Trilobites l