5.2" Drotops Trilobite With Nice Eye Facets - Mrakib, Morocco

This is a large, 5.2" long Drotops megalomanicus trilobite quarried from Mrakib, Morocco. It's very 3D with excellent eye facet preservation and preparation. It has about 5-6% shell restoration along repaired cracks.

About Drotops

Drotops is a genus of large Phacopid trilobites found in Morocco. The genus includes two species: Drotops megalomanicus, known for its smoother exoskeleton, and Drotops armatus, distinguished by its spiny armor. Renowned for their impressive size, these trilobites can reach lengths of up to seven inches, with most specimens ranging between four and five inches.

One of the most striking features of Drotops trilobites is their highly detailed schizochroal eyes, which contain dozens of individual facets. In well-preserved and expertly prepared specimens, these intricate eye structures are prominently visible, offering a glimpse into the advanced visual adaptations of these ancient arthropods.

Drotops Collection Photos

A photo of the Drotops quarry at Issoumour, Morocco showing the hard limestone layers being worked.
A photo of the Drotops quarry at Issoumour, Morocco showing the hard limestone layers being worked.


A photo of the Drotops quarry at Issoumour, Morocco.  The quarry following the horizon where this trilobites are found extends several kilometers around the mountain.
A photo of the Drotops quarry at Issoumour, Morocco. The quarry following the horizon where this trilobites are found extends several kilometers around the mountain.


How a Drotops might be found in the field, with part of the tail exposed in the broken rock.  It would then be prepared using airscribes (or air pens) and air abrasives in a process that would likely take 20+ hours for a good specimen.
How a Drotops might be found in the field, with part of the tail exposed in the broken rock. It would then be prepared using airscribes (or air pens) and air abrasives in a process that would likely take 20+ hours for a good specimen.



About Trilobites

Trilobites were a very diverse group of extinct marine arthropods. They first appeared in the fossil record in the Early Cambrian (521 million years ago) and went extinct during the Permian mass extinction (250 million years ago). They were one of the most successful of the early animals on our planet: over 25,000 species have been described, filling nearly every evolutionary niche. Due in large part to their hard exoskeletons (shells), they left an excellent fossil record.
SOLD
DETAILS
SPECIES
Drotops megalomanicus
LOCATION
Mrakib, Morocco
FORMATION
Bou Dib Formation
SIZE
5.2" long (if outstretched)
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#233278
GUARANTEE
We guarantee the authenticity of all of our specimens.