Trilobite (morocco) Crotalocephalus africanus c300myo Devonian , North Africa

Another superbly detailed trilobite, a little decapitation during the fossilisation process but we can forgive this after 300+ million years in the ground, the time and patience taken to clean this fossil has truly paid off, every segment is crisp and defined. This trilobite has a hairline crack through the top half of the body (common with these), but has been expertly repaired and does not detract from the form.

Crotalocephalus, discovered in Alnif, Morocco dating back to the Devonian era around 360 million years ago. Crotalocephalus was a deep sea dwelling trilobite, we know this from characteristics such as the smaller eyes which are less prominent than other species of its kind. Trilobites are an extinct anthropod that form the class Trilobita. These animals lived on the sea beds and were eradicated during the mass extinction at the end of the Permian era around 250 million years ago.

Name meaning- 3 lobed

Group- Anthropod

Class- Trilobita

Habitat- Trilobites inhabited all depths of the sea depending on species.

Period- Spanning the Cambrian to the Permian. (521-252 million years ago)

Length- ranges between 1mm to 72cm

Predators- Large invertebrates such as Nautiloids, Predatory worms, sea scorpions and Crusraeceans.