Spectacularly Spiny Dicranurus monstrosus Trilobite

Dicranurus monstrosus

Trilobites Order Lichida, Family Odontopleuridae

Geological Time: Lower Devonian

Size: Trilobite is 63 mm long by 74 mm wide (with spines) on a 90 mm by 80 mm matrix..

Fossil Site: Aatchana, Morocco

Fossil Code: 16188

Price: $950.00


Description: Here is one of the more sought after trilobites of the Order Lichida, Family Odontopleuridae known as Dicranurus monstrosus. Notice that the librigenae are tightly attached, a sign of a well-articulated specimen. It is found in the Devonian Laatchana Formation deposits near Alnif, Morocco. It is quite prone, and dominates its bed of matrix. To what purpose could this spiny exoskeleton have been evolved? The answer is simple -- DEFENSE!! Fish had recently evolved jaws, and in the never ending arms race between predator and prey, Dicranurus' amswer was a spectacular defensive array of spines. A substantial amount of prep time goes into a dramatic specimen such as this, one whose only touchup is to spots where the outer layer of exoskeleton was missing. I have included a photo of it prior to tinting. This is a fine example sure to become a prized member of any collection. See my other listing for a roughly contemporary species prepared by Bob Carroll, Oklahoma trilobite preparator nonpareil.

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