Rare Shelled Phyllocarid Arthropod with Preserved Soft Tissue

part and counterpart

Phyllocarida indet

Phylum Arthropoda, Subphylum Crustacea, Class Malacostraca, Subclass Phyllocarida, Family Ceratiocaridae

Geological Time: Lower Ordovician (~ 420 million years ago)

Size: Fossil is 73 mm long (overall) with a 27 mm long by 17 mm wide shell on a 105 mm by 110 mm and 180 mm by 120 mm matrix pair

Fossil Site: Upper Fezouata Formation, Zagora, Morocco

Code: 18136

Price: $425.00


Phyllocarid Arthropod with Preserved Soft TissueDescription: This is an unusual Phyllocarid arthropod from the Lower Ordovician of Morocco. Phyllocarids are one of the lesser known branchiopod crustaceans from the Cambrian where they are among the earliest animalsPhyllocarid with a hard shell. They have a fairly large carapace, which protects the anterior part of the body. This structure hinged along the dorsal edge like a bivalve. Usually only the carapace is found. Rarely are the soft parts preserved such as they are in this fine specimen. I have included a photo from the field in which the limbs have been highlighted, as well as drawing of the Silurian Phyllocarid Ceratiocaris from Scotland to give you a better idea of how these looked in life.

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