Red Phacopid Trilobite

Matrix approx. size: 3.5" x 3.5" x 1.25"

Specimen approx. size: 1.5"

This specimen has excellent eye facet preservation and great detail on the body. The red coloration is due to high levels of iron in the silicified exoskeleton.

There are dozens of phacopid trilobites from Morocco including Phacops, Morocops, Austerops, Barrandeops, Pedinopariops, etc. Collectively they are commonly referred to as Phacops trilobites. Many of these species only have slight differences, such as different eye facet counts.

Trilobites, exclusively marine animals, first appeared at the beginning of the Cambrian Period, about 542 million years ago, when they dominated the seas. Although they became less abundant in succeeding geologic periods, a few forms persisted into the Permian Period, which ended about 251 million years ago.