Ventral Kettneraspis williamsi Oklahoma Trilobite

Description: I struck up a friendship with Bob Carroll at our first meeting at the Tucson fossil show in 2001. I was taken not only by the Bob’s personality but also by the quality of the specimens he prepares from his Black Cat Mountain quarry. Each year I try to acquire something new for my collection in addition to the fine specimens I offer on the website. This last winter during a conversation with Bob he asked me if there was anything special that I would like. Since I have had a long-term fascination with trilobites preserved in the ventral mode, I asked him if he could prepare a “Leo’ (his pet name for Kettneraspis) for me. He told me he would, and that I could pick it up at this year’s show. Bob prepared two specimens, and I kept one for myself, which I had him autograph-something I have had him do for me with each specimen I have in my personal collection. This is the second one, and Bob’s typically elegant preparation can be seen here. Notice the forked pattern to the structures opposite the pleural spines. I interpret them as anchor points for muscles, but they may have had a different purpose. Recent conversation with Bob has shed some light on these features: Bob has told me that they are a common feature of all the Black Cat Mountain Odontopleurids: Kettneraspis, Dicranurus, Ceratonurus, and Laethoprusia. Perhaps I have an idea for a new prep project.

Also see: Production of Oklahoma Trilobites