2.8" Unique Walliserops With Translucent Hollardops - Foum Zguid

This is a really unique piece from the Timrhanrhart Formation of Morocco. There is a spiny, 2.8" long Walliserops trifurcatus with it's distinctive, trident shaped rostrum. Laying over part of its head is a Hollardops which has been prepared to remove most of the rock from both sides of the shell. This leaves much of the calcite shell translucent when held up to a light source.

The Walliserops has some disarticulation in the head, with the right cheek and trident pushed to the side. All of the spines have been prepared free-standing. A beautiful piece.

Walliserops is one of the weirdest, and most visually stunning species of trilobite, Walliserops trifurcatus. There is some debate about the purpose of the trident shaped appendage or rostrum coming off the front of it's head but it's likely it could have either had sensory purposes or have been used to stir up the mud while looking for food.